2017 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS-Class SUV window

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.
REstablish how deep the water is and the char-
acteristics of the body of water before ford-
ing.
RSelect the highest possible vehicle level.
RShift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
ing wheel paddle shifter.
RAvoid high engine speeds.
REnter and exit the water at a flat place and at
a steady walking pace.
RDrive slowly and at an even speed through the
water.
REnsure that a bow wave does not form as you
drive.
RDo 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.
RClean any mud from the tire tread after ford-
ing.
RApply the brakes to dry them after fording.
Always observe the fording depth values
(
Ypage 385).
Winter driving
GWARNING
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.
GDANGER
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 cruise control or
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
XShift the transmission to position N.
When driving in snow with or without snow
chains, select driving program Slippery
(
Ypage 145).
iVehicles 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
designed 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 (
Ypage 348).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see (
Ypage 348).
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (
Ypage 366).
Driving tips167
Driving and parking
Z

RLOW RANGE offroad gear (vehicles with the
Offroad Engineering package) (Ypage 219)
RDifferential lock (vehicles with the Off-Road
Engineering package) (Ypage 218)
ROff-road ABS (Ypage 64)
ROff-road 4ETS (Ypage 67)
ROff-road ESP®(Ypage 68)
RAIRMATIC package (vehicle level)
(Ypage 186)
RDSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
(Ypage 216)
Observe the following notes:
RStop the vehicle before starting to drive along
an off-road route. If necessary, select the off-
road program (
Ypage 218) or shift to the
LOW RANGE off-road gear (Ypage 219).
RSelect a vehicle level that is suitable for the
terrain. To avoid damaging the vehicle, make
sure there is always sufficient ground clear-
ance.
RCheck that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(
Ypage 299).
RAlways keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient. Activate
DSR (
Ypage 216).
RAlways keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope.
RAdapt your speed to the terrain. The rougher,
steeper or more ruts on the terrain, the slower
your speed should be.
RDo not jump with the vehicle as this will inter- rupt the vehicle's propulsion.
RDrive 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.
RLook out for obstacles, such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
RAlways keep the doors, the tailgate, the side
windows and the sliding sunroof closed whilethe vehicle is in motion.
RDo not shift the automatic transmission to
transmission position N.
RObserve the notes on off-road fording
(Ypage 167).
iDo 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.
XEngine 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.
XDEF tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check the
level and add if necessary (Ypage 156).
XTire-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.
XWheels and tires: check the tire tread depth
and tire pressure.
XCheck for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tires.
XReplace any missing valve caps.
XReplace dented or damaged wheels.
XRims: 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.
XIf the Offroad orOffroad Plus drive program
is selected: select the Individual,Sport,
Driving tips169
Driving and parking
Z

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:
Rin your place of residence
Rin the location to which you are driving
The police and local authorities can provide reli- able information.
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
RTo 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
RBefore driving, check:
-trailer tow hitch
-safety switch for braked trailers
-safety chains
-electrical connections
-lights
-wheels
RAdjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
RIf the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away carefully. Brake manually
using the brake controller and check whether
the brakes function correctly.
RSecure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is in
motion.
RWhen you couple up a trailer, check at regular
intervals that the load is firmly secured. If the
tra
iler is equipped with trailer lights and
brakes, check the trailer to ensure that these
are working.
RBear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when driving
without one. Avoid sudden steering move-
ments.
RThe 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.
RIf 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.
RIf 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.
RWhen driving downhill, shift to a lower gear toutilize the engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if instal-
led, the trailer brakes.
RIf 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.
RWhen 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
GWARNING
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.
GWARNING
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-
226Towing a trailer
Driving an d parking

Displaying theassistance graphic
XPress th e= or; buttonon th esteerin g
whee lto selec tth eDriveAssistmenu.
XPress 9or: to selec tAssistanc eGraphic.
XConfirmby pressing aon thesteerin g
wheel.
The multifunction display shows th eDistanc e
Pilo tDISTRONIC distanc edisplay in th eassis-
tanc egraphi cdisplay.
The assistanc egraphi cdisplays th estatus of
and information from th efollowin gdrivin g
systems or drivin gsafet ysystems :
RTraffic Sign Assis t (Ypage 206)
RDistancePilo tDISTRONIC (Ypage 174)
RActive BrakeAssis t (Ypage 64)
RActive Brak eAssis twit hcross-traffic func-
tion (Ypage 70 )
RATTENTION ASSIST (Ypage 205)
RLaneKeepin gAssis t (Ypage 209) or Active
Lan eKeepin gAssis t (Ypage 213)
RDSR (Ypage 216)
ROff-road program (vehicles wit hOff-Road
Engineerin gpackage) (Ypage 218)
RRear window wipe r (Ypage 120)
XPress:to display th eATTENTION ASSIST
assessment.
Activating/deactivating Steering Pilo t
XPress the= or; buttonon th esteerin g
whee lto selec tth eDriveAssistmenu.
XPress 9or: to selec tSteeringPilot.
XConfir mby pressing aon thesteerin g
wheel.
The curren tselection appears .
XTo activate/deactivate :press th ea but-
to nagain .
Whe nth eSteerin gPilo tis activated, th emul-
tifunction display displays aSteering
PilotOnmessage. Further information about Distanc
ePilo t
DISTRONIC wit hSteerin gPilo t (
Ypage 180).
Activating or deactivating Active Brak e
Assis t
You can use these function sto activate/deac -
tivat eActive Brak eAssis tor ,on vehicles wit h
th eDriving Assistanc epackage, to activat eor
deactivat eActive Brak eAssis twit hcross-traffic
function .
XPress the= or; buttonon th esteerin g
whee lto selec tth eDriveAssistmenu.
XPress th e9 or: buttonto selec t
Brake Assist.
XPress ato confirm .
The curren tselection appears .
XTo activate/deactivate :press th ea but-
to nagain .
Whe nActive Brak eAssis tor Active Brak e
Assis twit hcross-traffic function is deactiva-
ted, th eæ symbol appears in th emulti-
function display in th eassistanc egraphi cdis -
play.
Further information on Active Brak eAssis t
(
Ypage 64) and Active Brak eAssis twit hcross -
traffic function (Ypage 69).
Activating/deactivating ATTENTIO N
ASSIS T
XPress th e= or; buttonon th esteerin g
whee lto selec tth eDriveAssistmenu.
XPress th e9 or: buttonto selec t
Attention Assist.
XPress th ea button.
The curren tselection appears .
XPressato confirm .
XPress the: or9 buttonto set Off,
Standardor Sensitive.
XPress th ea buttonto sav eth esetting .
Whe nATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated, th e
é symbol appears in th emultifunction dis -
play in th eassistanc egraphics display.
Fo rfurther information about ATTENTION
ASSIST ,see (
Ypage 205).
Menus and submenus237
On-board computer and displays
Z

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
6
RearLef tMalfunc‐tio nServic eRequiredorRea rRight MalfunctionServic eRequired
The restrain tsystem has malfunctioned at th erear on th elef tor right .
The 6 warning lamp also lights up in th einstrumen tcluster.
GWARNIN G
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be triggered
unintentionally or, in th eevent of an accident, may no tbe triggered .
There is an increased ris kof injury.
XVisit aqualified specialist workshop immediately.
6
Rea rCenterMalfunc‐tionServic eRequired
The restrain tsystem has malfunctioned at th erear center. The 6
warning lamp also lights up in th einstrumen tcluster.
GWARNIN G
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be triggered
unintentionally or, in th eevent of an accident, may no tbe triggered .
There is an increased ris kof injury.
XVisit aqualified specialist workshop immediately.
6
Lef tSid eCurtai nAirbag MalfunctionServiceRequiredorRigh tSideCurtai nAirbagMalfunctionServiceRequired
The left-han dor right-hand window curtai nair bag is malfunctioning .
The 6 warning lamp also lights up in th einstrumen tcluster.
GWARNIN G
The lef tor right window curtai nair bag may either be triggered unin-
tentionally or, in th eevent of an accident, may no tbe triggered .
There is an increased ris kof injury.
XVisit aqualified specialist workshop immediately.
Display messages25 3
On-board computer and displays
Z

Cargo compartment cover
Important safety notes
GWARNING
On its own, the cargo compartment cover
cannot secure or restrain heavy objects,
items of luggage and heavy loads. You could
be hit by an unsecured load during sudden
changes in direction, braking or in the event of
an accident. There is an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping over, e.g. by
using tie downs, even if you are using the
cargo compartment cover.
!When loading the vehicle, make sure that
you do not stack the load in the cargo com-
partment higher than the lower edge of the
side windows. Do not place heavy objects on
top of the cargo compartment cover.
The cargo compartment cover may be installed
behind the 2nd or 3rd row of seats.
Extending/retracting the cargo com-
partment cover
XTo extend: pull the cargo compartment cover
back by grab handle :and clip it into retain-
ers ;on the left and right.
XTo retract: unhook the cargo compartment
cover from left-hand and right-hand retain-
ers ;.
XGuide cargo compartment cover forwards by
grab handle :until it is completely rolled up.
Installing/removing the cargo compart-
ment cover
XTo remove: make sure that cargo compart-
ment cover :is rolled up.
XPush end cap =of cargo compartment
cover :in the direction of the arrow on the
right or left-hand side.
XPush cargo compartment cover :into oppo-
site anchorage ;.
XRemove cargo compartment cover :.
XTo install:if installed, remove the protective
caps from the side panels of the seat row in
which the cargo compartment cover is to be
installed. Use a suitable object here, e.g. a
coin.
XInstall the protective caps to the side panels
of the other seat row.
XPlace cargo compartment cover :into
anchorage ;on the right or left-hand side.
XPush in opposite end cap =of cargo com-
partment cover :in the direction of the
arrow and insert cargo compartment
cover :into opposite anchorage ;.
Coat hooks on the tailgate
:Coat hook
300Stowage areas
Stowage and features

Cup holder in the third row of seats
:Cup holder
The cup holders are located in the side trim on
the left and right-hand sides.
Sun visors
Overview
GWARNING
If the mirror cover of the vanity mirror is folded
up when the vehicle is in motion, you could be
blinded by incident light. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always keep the mirror cover folded down
while driving.
:Mirror light
;Additional sun visor
=Bracket
?Retaining clip, e.g. for a car park ticket
AVanity mirror
BMirror cover
Vanity mirror in the sun visor
Mirror light :only functions if the sun visor is
clipped into retainer =and mirror cover Bhas
been folded up.
Glare from the side
XFold down sun visor :.
XPull sun visor:out of retainer =.
XSwing sun visor :to the side.
Vehicles with additional sun visor:
XSlide sun visor :horizontally as required.
XFold down additional sun visor ;to the wind-
shield.
Roller sunblinds on the rear side win-
dows
!
Always guide the roller sunblind by hand. Do
not let it snap back suddenly as this would
damage the automatic roller mechanism.
!Do not drive the vehicle with the roller sun-
blind hooked in and the side windows opened
simultaneously. The roller sunblind can jump
out of the retainers and spring back suddenly
when driving at high speeds, e.g. when driving
on the freeway. This could damage the inertia
reel. Therefore, either close the side window
or retract the roller sunblind before driving at
high speeds.
304Features
Stowage and features

XTo extend:pull the roller sunblind out by
tab :and hook it onto retainers ;at the
back of the window.
The roller sunblind can be hooked back into
place should it pop out from the top of the guide
rail.
XTilt pull-out profile :as illustrated.
XSlip guide bush ;into open area of guide rail
=.
XStraighten up pull-out profile :again.
Ashtray
Front ashtray
!The holder under the ashtray is not heat
resistant. Before placing lit cigarettes in the
ashtray, make sure that the ashtray is prop-
erly engaged. Otherwise, the holder could be
damaged.
XTo open: slide cover :to its foremost posi-
tion.
XFold cover =of the insert upwards.
XTo remove the insert: push insert=to the
left ?.
Insert =slides out slightly to the right.
XLift insert =up; and out.
XTo re-install the insert: place insert=into
the holder and press it down on the right until
it engages.
XTo close: pull cover :back as far as it will go.
Rear-compartment ashtray
!Close the ashtray when it is not in use and
before you fold the rear seats forward. You
can otherwise damage the ashtray.
Vehicles without a Rear Seat Entertainment Sys-
tem have an ashtray in the center console in the
rear compartment.
XTo open: briefly press cover ;at the top.
The ashtray opens.
XTo remove the insert: push into recess=
from the right.
Ashtray insert :slides out slightly to the
right.
Features305
Stowag ean d features
Z