2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV steering

Crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature
If the crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is trig-
gered in an accident, the steering column will
move upwards when the driver's door is opened.
This occurs irrespective of the position of the
key in the ignition lock. This makes it easier to
exit the vehicle and rescue the occupants.
The crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is only
operational if the EASY-EXIT/ENTRY feature is
activated in the on-board computer
(Y page 254). Mirrors
Rear-view mirror
X
Anti-dazzle mode: pivot anti-dazzle
switch :forwards or back. Exterior mirrors
Adjusting the exterior mirrors G
WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle while
driving if you:
R adjust the driver's seat, steering wheel or
mirrors
R fasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint, steer-
ing wheel and mirrors and fasten your seat
belt before starting the engine. G
WARNING
The exterior mirrors reduce the size of the
image. Objects visible in the mirrors are
closer than they appear. You could misjudge
the distance from road users driving behind
you when changing lanes, for instance. There is a risk of an accident.
You should therefore always look over your
shoulder to determine the actual distance
from road users driving behind you. X
Turn the key to position 1or 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 148).
X Exterior mirror on the driver's side: press but-
ton :.
Exterior mirror on the front-passenger side:
press button ;.
The indicator lamp in the corresponding but-
ton lights up in red.
The indicator lamp goes out again after some
time. You can adjust the selected exterior
mirror using button =as long as the indicator
lamp is lit.
X Press button =up, down, or to the right or
left until you have adjusted the exterior mirror to the correct position. You should have a
good overview of traffic conditions.
The convex exterior mirrors provide a larger field
of vision.
The exterior mirrors are automatically heated if
the rear window heating is switched on and the
outside temperature is low. 116
MirrorsSeats, steering wheel and
mirrors

Folding the exterior mirrors in/out elec-
trically X
Turn the key to position 1or 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 148).
X Briefly press button :.
Both exterior mirrors fold in or out.
i Make sure that the exterior mirrors are
always folded out fully while driving. They
could otherwise vibrate.
i If you are driving faster than 47 km/h, you
can no longer fold in the exterior mirrors.
Resetting the exterior mirrors If the battery has been disconnected or com-
pletely discharged, the exterior mirrors must be
reset. The exterior mirrors will otherwise not
fold in when you select the "Fold in mirrors whenlocking" function in the on-board computer
(Y page 255).
X Turn the key to position 1in the ignition lock
(Y page 148).
X Briefly press button :.
Folding the exterior mirrors in/out
automatically If the "Fold in mirrors when locking" function is
activated in the on-board computer
(Y page 255),
R the exterior mirrors fold in automatically as
soon as you lock the vehicle from the outside
R the exterior mirrors fold out again automati-
cally as soon as you unlock the vehicle and
then open the driver's or front-passenger
door Exterior mirror pushed out of position If an exterior mirror has been pushed out of
position (forwards or backwards), proceed as
follows:
X Vehicles without electrically folding exte-
rior mirrors: manually move the exterior mir-
ror into the correct position.
X Vehicles with electrically folding exterior
mirrors: press and hold mirror-folding but-
ton :until you hear a click and the mirror
engages in position audibly.
The mirror housing is engaged again and you
can adjust the exterior mirrors as usual
(Y page 116). Automatic anti-dazzle mirrors
G
WARNING
Electrolyte may escape if the glass of an auto- matic anti-dazzle mirror breaks. Electrolyte is
harmful and causes irritation. It must not
come into contact with your skin, eyes, res-
piratory organs or clothing or be swallowed.
There is a risk of injury.
If you come into contact with electrolyte,
observe the following:
R immediately rinse off electrolyte from your
skin with water.
R immediately and thoroughly rinse electro-
lyte out of eyes using clean water.
R if electrolyte is swallowed, immediately
rinse out your mouth thoroughly. Do not
induce vomiting.
R if electrolyte comes into contact with skin
or eyes or is swallowed, seek medical atten-
tion immediately.
R immediately change out of clothing that has
been in contact with electrolyte.
R if an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical
attention immediately. Mirrors
117Seats, steering wheel and mirrors Z

The rear-view mirror and the exterior mirror on
the driver's side automatically go into anti-daz-
zle mode if the following conditions are met
simultaneously:
R the ignition is switched on and
R incident light from headlamps strikes the sen-
sor in the rear-view mirror
The mirrors do not dip if reverse gear is engaged or if the interior lighting is switched on. Parking position of the exterior mirror
on the front-passenger side
Setting and storing the parking position You can set the front-passenger side exterior
mirror so that you can see the rear wheel on that side as soon as you engage reverse gear. You
can store this position.
Using reverse gear :
Button for the exterior mirror on the driver's
side
; Button for the exterior mirror on the front-
passenger side
= Adjustment button
? Memory button M
X Bring the vehicle to a standstill.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 148).
X Press button ;.
X Engage reverse gear.
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side moves to the default parking position.
X Use button =to adjust the exterior mirror to
a position that allows you to see the rear
wheel and the kerb.
The parking position is stored. i
If you shift the transmission to another posi-
tion, the exterior mirror on the front-
passenger side returns to the driving position.
Using the memory button You can store the parking position of the exte-
rior mirror on the front-passenger side using
memory button
M?. The reverse gear must not
be engaged during the process.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 148).
X Press button ;.
X Use button =to adjust the exterior mirror to
a position that allows you to see the rear
wheel and the kerb.
X Press memory button M? and one of the
arrows on button =within three seconds.
The parking position is stored if the exterior
mirror does not move.
X If the mirror moves out of position, repeat the
steps.
Calling up a stored parking position X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 148).
X Adjust the exterior mirror on the front-
passenger side using button ;.
X Engage reverse gear.
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side moves to the stored parking position.
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger side
moves back to its original position: R as soon as you exceed a speed of 15 km/h
R if you press button :for the exterior mirror
on the driver's side Memory function
Storing settings
G
WARNING
If you use the memory function on the driver's side while driving, the adjustments could
cause you to lose control of the vehicle. There
is a risk of an accident.
Only use the memory function on the driver's
side while the vehicle is stationary. 118
Memory functionSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

G
WARNING
When the memory function adjusts the seat or steering wheel, you and other vehicle occu-
pants – particularly children – could become
trapped. There is a risk of injury.
While the memory function is making adjust-
ments, make sure that no one has any body
parts in the sweep of the seat or steering
wheel. If somebody becomes trapped, imme-
diately release the memory function position
button. The adjustment process is stopped. G
WARNING
If children activate the memory function, they
could become trapped, especially if they are
unattended. There is a risk of injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children unattended in the vehicle.
The memory function can be used at any time,
e.g. even when the key is not in the ignition lock. With the memory function, you can store up to
three different settings, e.g. for three different
people.
The following settings are stored as a single
memory preset:
R position of the seat, backrest and head
restraint
R driver's side: steering wheel position
R driver's side: position of the exterior mirrors
on the driver's and front-passenger sides X
Adjust the seat (Y page 104).
X On the driver's side, adjust the steering wheel
(Y page 114) and the exterior mirrors
(Y page 116).
X Press memory button Mand then press mem-
ory position button 1,2or 3within three sec-
onds.
The settings are stored in the selected mem-
ory position. A tone sounds when the settings have been completed.
The memory function can still be used if the key
has been removed. Calling up a stored setting
X Press and hold the relevant storage position
button 1,2or 3until the seat, steering wheel
and exterior mirrors are in the stored position.
The setting procedure is interrupted as soon as
you release the buttons for the storage position. Memory function
119Seats, steering wheel and mirrors Z

The hazard warning lamps switch on automati-
cally if:
R an airbag is deployed or
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a speed
of above 70 km/h and comes to a standstill
The hazard warning lamps switch off automati-
cally if the vehicle reaches a speed of above
10 km/h again after a full brake application.
i The hazard warning lamps continue to oper-
ate even if the ignition is switched off. Intelligent Light System
General notes The Intelligent Light System is a system that
adjusts the headlamps automatically to suit the
prevailing driving and weather conditions. It
offers advanced functions for improved illumi-
nation of the road surface, e.g. depending on the vehicle speed or weather conditions. The sys-
tem includes the active light function, corneringlight function, motorway mode and extended
range foglamps. The system is only active when it is dark.
You can activate or deactivate the "Intelligent
Light System" function using the on-board com-
puter (Y page 252).
Active light function The active light function is a system that moves
the headlamps according to the steering move-
ments of the front wheels. In this way, relevant
areas remain illuminated while you are driving.
This allows you to recognise pedestrians,
cyclists and animals.
Active: when the lights are switched on.
Cornering light function The cornering light function improves the illu-
mination of the road over a wide angle in the
direction you are turning, enabling better visi-
bility in tight bends, for example. It can be acti-
vated only when the dipped-beam headlamps
are switched on. Active:
R if you are driving at speeds below 40 km/h
and switch on the turn signal or turn the steer-
ing wheel
R if you are driving at speeds between 40 km/h
and 70 km/h and turn the steering wheel
The cornering light function may remain lit for a
short time, but is automatically switched off
after no more than three minutes.
Motorway mode Motorway mode increases the range of the
beam.
Active:if you are driving at a speed above
110 km/h and do not make any large steering
movements for at least 1,000 m or if you are
driving at a speed above 130 km/h.
Not active: if you are driving at speeds below
80 km/h following activation.
Extended range fog lamps The extended-range foglamps reduce the glare
experienced by the driver and improve the illu-
mination of the edge of the carriageway.
Active: if you are driving at speeds below
70 km/h and you switch on the rear foglamp.
Not active: if, following activation, you are driv-
ing at speeds above 100 km/h or if you switch
off the rear foglamp.
Off-road lights The off-road lights facilitate the early recogni-
tion of objects/obstacles when driving off-road
thanks to a symmetrical, wider and brighter dis-
tribution of light from the dipped-beam head-
lamps.
Active: when driving at speeds no faster than
50 km/h and the off-road program selector
wheel is in position 1 or 2.
Not active: when driving at speeds above
50 km/h.
When the off-road lights are switched on, the
cornering light function is permanently activa-
ted, the active light function is deactivated and
the headlamp range control is set to static
mode. Exterior lighting
123Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Running-in notes
Important safety notes
In certain driving and driving safety systems, the sensors adjust automatically while a certain dis-
tance is being driven after the vehicle has been delivered or after repairs. Full system effective-
ness is not reached until the end of this teach-in process.
Brake pads/linings and discs that are either new or have been replaced only achieve optimum
braking effect after several hundred kilometres
of driving. Compensate for the reduced braking
effect by applying greater force to the brake
pedal. The first 1,500 km
If you treat the engine with sufficient care from
the very start, you will be rewarded with excel-
lent performance for the remainder of the
engine's life.
R Drive at varying vehicle speeds and engine
speeds for the first 1500 km.
R Avoid overstraining the vehicle during this
period, e.g. driving at full throttle.
R Change gear in good time, before the rev
counter needle is Ôof the way to the red area
of the rev counter.
R Do not shift down a gear manually in order to
brake.
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator pedal
beyond the point of resistance (kickdown).
Additional notes on running in Mercedes-AMG
vehicles:
R Do not drive at speeds above 140 km/h for
the first 1500 km.
R Only allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4500 rpm briefly.
R Ideally, for the first 1,500 km, drive in the
Comfort drive program.
After 1,500 km, you may gradually accelerate
the vehicle to full road and engine speeds.
You should also observe these notes on running- in if the engine or parts of the drive train on your
vehicle have been replaced.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell may restrict
the clearance around the pedals or block a
depressed pedal. This jeopardises the oper-
ating and road safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Stow all objects securely in the vehicle so that
they do not get into the driver's footwell.
Always fit the floormats securely and as pre-
scribed in order to ensure that there is always sufficient room for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats and do not place several floor-mats on top of one another. G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off. Driving
147Driving and parking Z

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The coolant temperature
display is showing more
than 120 †. The coolant warning lamp may also
be on and a warning tone
may sound. The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine is no
longer being cooled sufficiently.
X Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 335). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the radiator fan may be faulty. The cool-
ant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X If the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue driving
to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in moun-
tainous terrain and stop-start traffic. DYNAMIC SELECT controller
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to change the drive program. Depending on the drive pro-
gram selected, the following vehicle character-
istics will change:
R the drive (engine and transmission manage-
ment)
R the transmission
R the suspension
R the steering
R the availability of the ECO start/stop function
If the ignition is switched off for less than four
hours, the previously selected drive program is
activated when the engine is next started. If the
ignition is switched off for more than four hours,
the Comfort drive program is activated when
the engine is next started. X
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles):
turn DYNAMIC SELECT controller :as many times as necessary until the desired
drive program is selected.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display. After five seconds the
display goes out.
In addition, the current drive program settings
are displayed in the multimedia system dis-
play.
Drive programs available (all vehicles
except Mercedes-AMG vehicles): Individual
Individual settings
Sport
Sporty driving characteris-
tics
Comfort
Comfortable and economi-
cal driving characteristics
Slippery
Optimal driving characteris-
tics on slippery or snow-
covered roads Off-road
Optimal driving characteris-
tics for easily negotiable off-
road terrain Offroad Plus
(vehicles with
Off-Road Engi-
neering pack-
age)
Optimal driving characteris-
tics for rough terrain DYNAMIC SELECT controller
155Driving and parking Z

Further information on:
R the Individual, Sport,Comfort andSlippery
drive programs (Y page 159)
R the Offroad drive program (vehicles without
Off-Road Engineering package)
(Y page 228)
R the Offroad andOffroad Plus drive pro-
grams (vehicles with Off-Road Engineering
package) (Y page 229) X
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: turn DYNAMIC
SELECT controller :as many times as nec-
essary until the desired drive program is
selected.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display. After five seconds the
display goes out.
In addition, the current drive program settings are displayed in the multimedia system dis-
play.
Drive programs available (Mercedes-AMG
vehicles): Individual
Individual settings
Comfort
Comfortable and economi-
cal driving characteristics
Sport
Sporty driving characteris-
tics
Sport Plus
Particularly sporty driving
characteristics
Slippery
Optimal driving characteris-
tics on slippery or snow-
covered roads Additional information on drive programs
(Y page 159). Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake. DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions j
Park position with parking lock
k Reverse gear
i Neutral
h Drive
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steering column.
The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns to its
original position. The current transmission posi-
tion P,R, Nor Dappears in the transmission
position display in the multifunction display
(Y page 158).
Engaging park position P !
If the engine speed is too high, do not shift
the automatic transmission directly from Dto
R, from Rto Dor directly to P. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission could be damaged. 156
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking