2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV oil change

Problems with the transmission
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. 7G-TRONIC:
The acceleration charac-
teristics are deteriorat-
ing.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is possible to shift only into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. 9G-TRONIC:
The acceleration charac-
teristics are deteriorat-
ing.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only partly possible to engage the gears or the transmission is in
position N.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Refuelling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before refuelling. G
WARNING
Fuels are poisonous and hazardous to health. There is a danger of injury. Do not swallow fuel or let it come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale fuel
vapours. Keep fuels out of the reach of chil-
dren.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash the fuel off any affected areas of skin
with water and soap immediately.
R If you get fuel in your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water immediately. Seek
immediate medical attention.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting.
R Change any clothing that has come into
contact with fuel immediately. Refuelling
163Driving and parking Z

R
Do not stray from marked routes or paths.
R Observe the notes on off-road fording
(Y page 175).
i Information about retrofitting special all-ter-
rain tyres is available from any qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
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 off-road driving X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil and top
it up if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the oil level must be sufficiently high to ensure a correct
oil supply in the vehicle.
X AdBlue ®
tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check the
level and top up if necessary (Y page 166).
X Tyre-change tool kit: check that the jack is
working and make sure that the wheel
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade are in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tyres.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X Wheels: dented or bent wheels can lead to a
loss of tyre pressure and damage to the tyre
bead. Before driving off-road, check the
wheels and replace them if necessary.
Checklist after off-road driving !
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 Off-road orOff-road Plus drive pro-
gram is selected: select the Individual,Sport,
Comfort orSlippery drive program
(Y page 155).
X Deactivate the LOW RANGE offroad gear
(Y page 230).
X Deactivate DSR (Y page 227).
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 licence plates.
X Clean the wheels and tyres with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the vehi-
cle underside with a water jet; check for any
foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of plants
have become trapped. These increase the risk
of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake
hoses or the rubber bellows of the axle joints
and propeller shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the entire
undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes, body-
work structure, steering, chassis and exhaust
system for damage.
X After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X If you detect strong vibrations after driving
off-road, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.
Driving on sand Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R Select the Offroaddrive program (vehicles
without Off-Road Engineering package)
(Y page 228).
R Select the Offroaddrive program (vehicles
with Off-Road Engineering package)
(Y page 229).
R Select a higher vehicle level.
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Use the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle to shift to a lower gear appropriate to
the terrain. 178
Driving
tipsDriving an d parking

Displaying service messages
X Switch the ignition on.
X Press the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the Serv.
Serv.menu.
X Press the 9or: button to select the
ASSYST
ASSYST PLUS
PLUSsubmenu and confirm by press-
ing the abutton.
The service due date appears in the multi-
function display. Information about service
Resetting the ASSYST PLUS service
interval display !
If the ASSYST PLUS service interval display
has been inadvertently reset, this setting can
be corrected at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Have service work carried out as described in the Service Booklet. This may otherwise lead
to increased wear and damage to the major
assemblies or the vehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre, will reset the
ASSYST PLUS service interval display after the
service work has been carried out. You can also
obtain further information on maintenance
work, for example.
Special service requirements The prescribed service interval is based on nor-
mal operation of the vehicle. Service work will
need to be performed more often if the vehicle is
operated under arduous conditions or increased loads, for example:
R regular city driving with frequent intermediate
stops
R if the vehicle is primarily used to travel short
distances
R for frequent operation in mountainous terrain
or on poor road surfaces
R if the engine is often left idling for long periods
In these or similar operating conditions, have,
for example, the air filter, engine oil and oil filter changed more frequently. The tyres must be
checked more frequently if the vehicle is oper-
ated under increased loads. Further informationcan be obtained at a qualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Driving abroad An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network is
also available in other countries. You can obtain further information from any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Care
General notes
H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any of
the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective films
with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice scraper.
You could otherwise scratch or damage the
surfaces and protective film.
! Do not park up your vehicle for a long period
of time immediately after cleaning, particu-
larly after cleaning the wheel rim with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaner may lead to increased corrosion of the brake discs and pads. You
should therefore drive for a few minutes after
cleaning. By heating up the brakes, the brake
discs and pads dry. The vehicle can then be
parked up for a long period of time.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Care
337Maintenance and care Z

Cleaning the plastic trim
G
WARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing solvents can cause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. This could result in plastic
parts breaking away when the airbags are
deployed. There is a danger of injury.
Do not use care products and cleaning agents containing solvents to clean the cockpit.
! Do not affix the following to plastic surfaces:
R stickers
R films
R scented oil bottles or similar items
You could otherwise damage the plastic.
! Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent or
sunscreen to come in contact with the plastic trim. This maintains the high-quality look of
the surfaces.
X Wipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfibre cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change colour temporarily.
Wait until the surface is dry again.
Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or selector lever X
Thoroughly wipe with a damp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning wood trim and trim elements !
Do not use solvent-based cleaning agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners, polishes
or waxes. There is otherwise a risk of damag- ing the surface.
X Wipe the wooden trim and trim elements with
a damp, lint-free cloth, e.g. a microfibre cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Cleaning the seat covers General notes
! Do not use a microfibre cloth to clean covers
made out of real leather, artificial leather or
DINAMICA. If used frequently, this can dam-
age the cover.
i Note that regular care is essential to make
sure that the appearance and comfort of the
covers are retained over time.
Genuine leather seat covers
! To retain the natural appearance of the
leather, observe the following cleaning
instructions:
R Clean genuine leather covers carefully with
a damp cloth and then wipe the covers
down with a dry cloth.
R Make sure that the leather does not
become soaked. It may otherwise become
rough and cracked.
R Only use leather care agents that have
been tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz. You can obtain these from a qualified specialist workshop.
Leather is a natural product.
It has natural surface properties, e.g.:
R unevenness in structure
R marks caused by growth and injury
R subtle colour differences
These are characteristics of leather and not
material faults.
Seat covers from other materials
! Observe the following when cleaning:
R clean artificial leather covers with a cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. washing-up liquid).
R clean cloth covers with a microfibre cloth
moistened with a solution containing 1%
detergent (e.g. washing-up liquid). Rub
carefully, and always wipe entire seat sec-
tions to avoid leaving visible lines. Leave
the seat to dry afterwards. Cleaning results
depend on the type of dirt and how long it
has been there.
R Clean DINAMICA covers with a damp cloth.
Make sure that you wipe entire seat sec-
tions to avoid leaving visible lines. Care
343Maintenance and care Z

The wear patterns on the front and rear tyres
differ depending on the operating conditions.
Interchange the wheels before a clear wear pat-
tern has formed on the tyres. Front tyres typi-
cally wear more on the shoulders, while rear
tyres wear more in the centre.
On vehicles that have the same size front and
rear wheels, you can interchange the wheels
every 5,000 to 10,000 km depending on the
degree of tyre wear. Ensure that the direction of
rotation is maintained.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and the
brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel is
interchanged. Check the tyre pressure and, if
necessary, restart the tyre pressure loss warn-
ing system or the tyre pressure monitor
(Y page 366). Direction of rotation
Tyres with a specified direction of rotation have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of aqua- planing. These advantages can only be gained if
the tyres are fitted corresponding to the direc-
tion of rotation.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tyre indicates its correct direction of rotation. Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the tyres
against oil, grease, petrol and diesel. Fitting a wheel
Preparing the vehicle X
Vehicles with an emergency spare wheel:
when fitting the emergency spare wheel in the
event of a flat tyre, observe the additional
notes on vehicle preparation under "Flat tyre"
(Y page 346).
X Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground.
X Apply the electric parking brake manually.
X Move the front wheels to the straight-ahead
position.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position
P.X
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
make sure that the normal vehicle level is
selected (Y page 198).
X Vehicles with the Off-Road Engineering
package:
make sure that the normal level is
selected (Y page 192).
X Switch off the engine.
X Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove the
key from the ignition lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the driv-
er's door.
The on-board electronics now have status 0.
This is the same as the key having been
removed.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(Y page 148).
X If included in the vehicle equipment, remove
the tyre-change tool kit from the vehicle.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away.
i Apart from certain country-specific varia-
tions, vehicles are not equipped with a tyre-
change tool kit. For information on which
tools are required to perform a wheel change
on your vehicle, consult a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
Necessary tyre-changing tools may include,
for example:
R jack
R wheel chock
R wheel wrench
Securing the vehicle against rolling
away If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel chock, it
can be found in the tyre-change tool kit
(Y page 345). 370
Changing a wheelWheels and tyres

X
Using wheel wrench :, loosen the bolts on
the wheel you wish to change by about one
full turn. Do not unscrew the bolts completely. The jacking points are located just behind the
front wheel arches and just in front of the rear
wheel arches (arrows).
X Take the ratchet ring spanner out of the vehi-
cle tool kit and place it on the hexagon nut of
the jack so that the letters AUFare visible. X
Position jack =at jacking point ;.
The centring pin on the jack must be inserted into the intended opening on the jacking
point. X
Make sure that the base of the jack is posi-
tioned vertically under the jacking point. X
Turn ratchet ring spanner ?until jack =sits
completely on jacking point ;and the base
of the jack lies evenly on the ground.
X Turn ratchet ring spanner ?until the tyre is
raised a maximum of 3 cm from the ground.
Removing a wheel !
Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. The
threads of the wheel bolts and wheel hubs
could otherwise be damaged when the bolts
are tightened.
When fitting/removing wheels, and for as long
as the wheels are removed, avoid applying any
external force on the brake discs. This could
impair the level of comfort when braking. X
Unscrew the uppermost wheel bolt com-
pletely.
X Screw centring pin :into the thread instead
of the wheel bolt.
X Unscrew the remaining wheel bolts fully.
X Remove the wheel.
Fitting a new wheel G
WARNING
Oiled or greased wheel bolts or damaged
wheel bolts/hub threads can cause the wheel bolts to come loose. As a result, you could
lose a wheel while driving. There is a risk of
accident.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts. In the event ofdamage to the threads, contact a qualified
specialist workshop immediately. Have the
damaged wheel bolts or hub threads
replaced/renewed. Do not continue driving. 372
Changing a wheelWheels and tyres

R
paraffin
R kerosene
Do not mix such fuels with diesel fuel and do
not use any special additives. Otherwise,
engine damage may occur.
! Vehicles with diesel particle filters:
in
countries outside the EU, only use low sulphur
Euro diesel with a sulphur content of under
50 ppm. Otherwise, the emission control sys- tem could be damaged.
! Vehicles without a diesel particle filter:
in countries where only diesel fuel with a high
sulphur content is available, you will need to
carry out your vehicle's oil change at shorter
intervals. More information about the interval for oil change can be obtained from any quali-
fied specialist workshop.
Usually you will find information about the fuel
grade on the pump. If you cannot find the label
on the petrol pump, ask the filling station staff.
Information on refuelling (Y page 164).
Low outside temperatures In winter months, diesel fuel with an improved
cold flow quality is available. In Europe, the
EN 590 standard defines various climate-
dependent temperature categories. Malfunc-
tions can be avoided by refuelling with diesel
fuel that corresponds to the climatic specifica-
tions outlined in EN 590. At unusually low out-
side temperatures, it is possible that the flow
characteristics of the diesel fuel could be insuf- ficient. Accordingly, diesel fuel from warmer
areas may not be suitable for operation in colder climatic conditions.
i Further information on country-specific fuel
properties and fuel types with low-tempera-
ture resistance can be obtained from oil com-
panies, e.g. at filling stations. AdBlue
®
Important safety notes Comply with the important safety notes for ser-
vice products when handling AdBlue ®
(Y page 381). AdBlue
®
is a water-soluble fluid for the exhaust
gas aftertreatment of diesel engines. It is:
R non-toxic
R colourless and odourless
R non-flammable
If you open the AdBlue ®
tank, small amounts of
ammonia vapour may be released.
Ammonia vapours have a pungent odour and are
particularly irritating to the skin, mucous mem-
branes and eyes. You may experience a burning sensation in your eyes, nose and throat. You
may also experience coughing and watery eyes.
Do not inhale any ammonia vapours that may be
released. Fill the AdBlue ®
tank only in well-ven-
tilated areas.
Low outside temperatures AdBlue
®
freezes at a temperature of approx-
imately -11 †. The vehicle is delivered from the
factory equipped with an AdBlue ®
preheating
system. Winter operation can thus be guaran-
teed even at temperatures below -11 †.
Additives !
Only use AdBlue ®
in accordance with ISO
22241. Do not use additives with AdBlue ®
and do not dilute AdBlue ®
with water. This
may destroy the BlueTEC exhaust gas after-
treatment system.
Purity !
Impurities in AdBlue ®
(e.g. due to other ser-
vice products, cleaning agents or dust) lead
to:
R increased emission values
R damage to the catalytic converter
R engine damage
R malfunctions in the BlueTEC ®
exhaust gas
aftertreatment system
The purity of AdBlue ®
is particularly important
with regard to avoiding malfunctions in the Blue- TEC exhaust gas aftertreatment system.
If AdBlue ®
is pumped out of the AdBlue ®
tank,
e.g. during repair work, do not use this fluid to
refill the tank. The purity of the fluid can no lon-
ger be guaranteed. 384
Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

Filling capacities
Model Total capacity
GLS 350 d 4MATIC
38.7 l
Engine oil
General notes When handling engine oil, observe the important
safety notes on service products (Y page 381).
The quality of the engine oil is decisive for the
function and service life of an engine. Mercedes-
Benz continually approves engine oils based on complex experiments according to the latest
technological standards.
Therefore, only Mercedes-Benz-approved
engine oils may be used in Mercedes-Benz
engines.
Further information on tested and approved
engine oils can be obtained from any Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you have the oil change carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop. Mercedes-
Benz approval is indicated on the oil container
by the inscription "MB-Freigabe" or "MB-
Approval" and the corresponding designation,
e.g. MB-Freigabe or MB-Approval 229.51.
You can call up an overview of approved engine oils on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.co mby entering
the designation, e.g. 229.5.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle.
You can find the correct values for your model
with the help of the VIN on the vehicle identifi-
cation plate (Y page 380). Petrol engines:
in certain countries, different
engine oils can be used, provided that the main-
tenance intervals are reduced. For more infor-
mation, please contact a qualified specialist
workshop. Petrol engines MB-Freigabe or
MB-Approval All models
229.5
Diesel engines with a
diesel particulate filter MB-Freigabe or
MB-Approval GLS 350 d 4MATIC
228.51, 229.31,
229.51, 229.52 Mercedes
‑AMG vehicles: use only SAE 0W-40
or SAE 5W-4 0engine oils.
i If the engine oils listed in the table are not
available, you may add the following engine
oils until the next oil change:
R Petrol engines: MB-Freigabe or MB-
Approval 229.3 or ACEA A3/B3
R Diesel engines: MB-Freigabe or MB-
Approval 229.3, 229.5 or ACEA C3
It may be used only once and the topping-up
quantity must not exceed 1.0 l.
Filling ca pacities The following values refer to an oil change,
including the oil filter.
Model Replacement
amount GLS 350 d 4MATIC
8.0 l
GLS 500 4MATIC
Mercedes-AMG
vehicles
8.5 l
All other models
7.0 l
Additives
!
Do not use any additives with the engine oil.
This could damage the engine. Service products and capacities
385Technical data Z