2017 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS tailgate

G WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or
not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury, particu-
larly in the event of sudden braking or a sud-
den change in direction.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the rear
when opened. Therefore, make sure that
there is sufficient clearance above and behind
the tailgate.
The opening dimensions of the tailgate can be
found in the "Vehicle data" section
( Y
page 384).
You should preferably place luggage or loads in
the cargo compartment. Observe the loading
guidelines ( Y
page 294).
Do not leave the SmartKey in the cargo com-
partment. You could otherwise lock yourself
out.
You can: R
close the tailgate manually from outside R
open and close the tailgate automatically
from outside R
open and close the tailgate automatically
from inside R
limit the opening angle of the tailgate R
unlock the tailgate from inside with the emer-
gency release
Tailgate reversing feature On vehicles with the tailgate remote closing fea-
ture, the tailgate is equipped with automatic
obstacle recognition with a reversing feature. If
a solid object blocks or restricts the tailgate
when automatically opening or closing, this pro-
cedure is stopped. If the tailgate is stopped dur-
ing the closing procedure, it will open again
automatically. The automatic obstacle recogni-
tion with reversing feature is only an aid. It is not
a substitute for your attentiveness when open-
ing and closing the tailgate. G WARNING
The reversing feature does not respond: R
to soft, light and thin objects, e.g. fingers R
over the last

Closing X
Pull the tailgate down using recess C .X
Allow the tailgate to drop into the lock. X
Lock the vehicle if necessary with the 7
button on the SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO.
i If a KEYLESS-GO key is detected in the cargo
compartment, the tailgate will not lock.
Opening/closing automatically from
outside
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Parts of the body could become trapped dur-
ing automatic closing of the tailgate. More-
over, people, e.g. children, may be standing in
the closing area or may enter the closing area
during the closing process. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the
closing area during the closing process.
Use one of the following options to stop the
closing process: R
press the T button on the SmartKey.R
pull or press the remote operating switch
on the driver's door. R
press the closing or locking button on the
tailgate. R
pull the handle on the tailgate
G WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate is open when the engine is running, particu-
larly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes
could enter the passenger compartment.
There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the tail-
gate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the rear
when opened. Therefore, make sure that
there is sufficient clearance above and behind
the tailgate.
Two warning tones sound while the tailgate is
opening or closing.
The opening dimensions of the tailgate can be
found in the "Vehicle data" section
( Y
page 384).
i Notes on the automatic reversing feature for
the tailgate ( Y
page 82).
Opening the tailgate automatically You can open the tailgate automatically with the
SmartKey or the handle in the tailgate. X
Press and hold the T button on the Smart-
Key until the tailgate opens.
or X
When the tailgate is unlocked, pull the tailgate
handle and let it go again immediately.
or X
With the tailgate stopped in an intermediate
position, pull the tailgate upwards.
You can release the tailgate as soon as the
tailgate starts to open.
Closing the tailgate automatically Cargo compartment 83
Opening and closing Z

X
To close: press closing button C in the tail-
gate.
or X
Press and hold the T button on the Smart-
Key until the tailgate closes.
You can release the button as soon as the
tailgate starts to close.
or X
Pull the tailgate downwards slightly.
You can release the tailgate as soon as the
tailgate starts to close.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: you can simultane-
ously close and lock the tailgate. X
Press locking button D in the tailgate.
If a KEYLESS-GO key is detected outside the
vehicle, the tailgate closes and locks. All the
doors must be shut and the SmartKey located
in the vicinity of the tailgate.
i The tailgate cannot be opened and closed
with the SmartKey if there is a SmartKey in the
ignition.
If the tailgate touches an object while closing,
the closing procedure is interrupted and the
tailgate reopens.
i If a KEYLESS-GO key is detected in the cargo
compartment, the tailgate will not lock.
Opening/closing automatically from
inside
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Parts of the body could become trapped dur-
ing automatic closing of the tailgate. In addi-
tion, people may be standing in the closing
area or may enter the closing area, e.g. chil-
dren, during the closing procedure. There is a
risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the
closing area during the closing process.
Release the remote operating switch imme-
diately if somebody becomes trapped. To re-
open the tailgate pull on the remote operating
switch. G WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate
is open when the engine is running, particu-
larly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes
could enter the passenger compartment.
There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the tail-
gate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the rear
when opened. Therefore, make sure that
there is sufficient clearance above and behind
the tailgate.
Two warning tones sound while the tailgate is
opening or closing.
The opening dimensions of the tailgate can be
found in the "Vehicle data" section
( Y
page 384).
i Notes on the automatic reversing feature for
the tailgate ( Y
page 82).
Opening and closing
X
To open: pull remote operating switch C for
the tailgate until the tailgate opens. X
To close: turn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2
in the ignition lock. X
Press remote operating switch for tailgate C
until the tailgate is completely closed.
You can open and close the tailgate from the
driver's seat when the vehicle is stationary and
unlocked.84
Cargo compartment
Opening and closing

Limiting the opening angle of the tail-
gate
General notes
! Make sure there is sufficient clearance to
open the tailgate fully when setting the open-
ing angle. The tailgate could otherwise be
damaged. Ideally, set the opening angle out-
side.
Activating You can limit the opening angle of the tailgate.
This is possible in the top half of its opening
range, up to approximately 4 in (10 cm) before
the stop. X
To open the tailgate: pull the handle on the
tailgate. X
To stop the opening procedure at the
desired position: press the closing button in
the tailgate or pull the handle on the outside
of the tailgate again. X
To save the position: press and hold the
closing button in the tailgate until two short
tones sound.
The opening angle limiter is activated. The
tailgate will now stop in the stored position
when opening.
Deactivating X
Press and hold the closing button in the tail-
gate until you hear a short tone.
Tailgate emergency release
General notes
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the rear
when opened. Therefore, make sure that
there is sufficient clearance above and behind
the tailgate.
The opening dimensions of the tailgate can be
found in the "Vehicle data" section
( Y
page 384).
If the tailgate can no longer be unlocked: R
using the SmartKey, or R
using the remote operating switch in the door
control panel:
Use the emergency release. Opening X
Take mechanical key D out of the SmartKey
( Y
page 76). X
Insert mechanical key D or a suitable tool,
e.g. a thin screwdriver, into opening C in the
paneling and push it in.
The tailgate is released. X
Open the tailgate. X
Insert mechanical key D into the SmartKey
( Y
page 76).
Side windows
Important safety notes
G WARNING
While opening the side windows, body parts
could become trapped between the side win-
dow and the door frame as the side window
moves. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody touches the side win-
dow during the opening procedure. If some-
body becomes trapped, release the switch or
pull the switch to close the side window again.
G WARNING
While closing the side windows, body parts in
the closing area could become trapped. There
is a risk of injury.
When closing make sure that no parts of the
body are in the closing area. If somebody
becomes trapped, release the switch or press
the switch to open the side window again. Side windows 85
Opening and closing Z

R
LOW RANGE offroad gear (vehicles with the
Offroad Engineering package) ( Y
page 219)R
Differential lock (vehicles with the Off-Road
Engineering package) ( Y
page 218)R
Off-road ABS ( Y
page 64)R
Off-road 4ETS ( Y
page 67)R
Off-road ESP ®
( Y
page 68)R
AIRMATIC package (vehicle level)
( Y
page 186) R
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
( Y
page 216)
Observe the following notes: R
Stop the vehicle before starting to drive along
an off-road route. If necessary, select the off-
road program ( Y
page 218) or shift to the
LOW RANGE off-road gear ( Y
page 219).R
Select a vehicle level that is suitable for the
terrain. To avoid damaging the vehicle, make
sure there is always sufficient ground clear-
ance. R
Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
( Y
page 299). R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient. Activate
DSR ( Y
page 216).R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope. R
Adapt your speed to the terrain. The rougher,
steeper or more ruts on the terrain, the slower
your speed should be. R
Do not jump with the vehicle as this will inter-
rupt the vehicle's propulsion. R
Drive 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. R
Look out for obstacles, such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows. R
Always keep the doors, the tailgate, the side
windows and the sliding sunroof closed while
the vehicle is in motion. R
Do not shift the automatic transmission to
transmission position N .R
Observe the notes on off-road fording
( Y
page 167).
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 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. X
Engine 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. X
DEF tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check the
level and add if necessary ( Y
page 156).X
Tire-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. X
Wheels and tires: check the tire tread depth
and tire pressure. X
Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tires. X
Replace any missing valve caps. X
Replace dented or damaged wheels. X
Rims: 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. X
If the Offroad or Offroad Plus drive program
is selected: select the Individual , Sport ,Driving tips 169
Driving and parking Z

The flap closes again when: R
you have finished the maneuvering process R
you switch off the engine R
you open the cargo compartment
Observe the notes on cleaning ( Y
page 328).
For technical reasons, the flap may remain
open briefly after the rear view camera has
been deactivated.
Activating/deactivating the rear view
camera X
To activate: make sure that the SmartKey is
in position 2 in the ignition lock.X
Make sure that the Activation by R gear
function is selected in the multimedia system;
see the Digital Operator's Manual. X
Engage reverse gear.
The rear view camera flap opens. The multi-
media system shows the area behind the vehi-
cle with guide lines.
The image from the rear view camera is avail-
able throughout the maneuvering process.
To deactivate: the rear view camera deacti-
vates if you shift the transmission to P or after
driving forwards a short distance.
Displays in the multimedia system The rear view camera may show a distorted view
of obstacles, show them incorrectly or not at all.
The rear view camera does not show objects in
the following positions: R
very close to the rear bumper R
under the rear bumper R
in the area immediately above the tailgate
handle
! Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.: R
the bumper of a parked vehicle R
the drawbar of a trailer R
the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch R
the rear section of an HGV R
a slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the bottom-
most guideline. C
Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m) from the rear of the
vehicle D
White guide line without turning the steering
wheel, vehicle width including the exterior
mirrors (static)

360° camera
General notes The 360° camera is a system consisting of four
cameras.
The system processes images from the follow-
ing cameras: R
Rear view camera R
Front camera R
Two cameras in the exterior rear view mirrors
The cameras capture the immediate surround-
ings of the vehicle. The system supports you,
e.g. when parking or if vision is restricted at an
exit.
You can show pictures from the 360° camera in
full-screen mode or in seven different split-
screen views on the multimedia system display.
A split-screen view also includes a top view of
the vehicle. This view is calculated from the data
supplied by the installed cameras (virtual cam-
era).
The six split-screen views are: R
Top view and picture from the rear view cam-
era (130° viewing angle) R
Top view and image from the front camera
(130° viewing angle without displaying the
maximum steering wheel angle) R
Top view and enlarged rear view R
Top view and enlarged front view R
Top view and rear-view images from the exte-
rior mirror cameras (rear wheel view) R
Top view and forward-view images from the
exterior mirror cameras (front wheel view)
When the function is active and you shift the
transmission from D or R to N , the dynamic
guidelines are hidden.
When you change between transmission posi-
tions D and R , you see the previously selected
front or rear view.
Distances measured by Parking Assist
PARKTRONIC will also be optically displayed: R
in split screen view as red or yellow brackets
around the vehicle icon in the top view, or R
at the bottom right as red or yellow brackets
around the vehicle symbol in full-screen mode
The line thickness and color of the brackets
show how far the vehicle is away from an object: R
yellow brackets with thin lines: Parking Assist
PARKTRONIC is active R
yellow brackets with normal lines: an object is
present in close range of the vehicle R
red line: an object is present in the immediate
close range of t he vehicle
i The camera in the rear area is protected
from raindrops and dust by means of a flap.
When the camera is activated, this flap opens.
The flap closes again when: R
you have finished the maneuvering process R
you switch off the engine R
you open the cargo compartment
Observe the notes on cleaning ( Y
page 328).
For technical reasons, the flap may remain
open briefly after the camera has been deac-
tivated.
Important safety notes The 360°camera is only an aid and may show a
distorted view of obstacles, show them incor-
rectly or not at all. The 360°camera is not a
substitute for attentive driving.
You are always responsible for safe maneuver-
ing and parking. When maneuvering or parking,
make sure that there are no persons, animals or
objects in the area in which you are maneuver-
ing.
You are always responsible for safety, and must
always pay attention to your surroundings when
parking and maneuvering. This applies to the
areas behind, in front of and beside the vehicle.
You could otherwise endanger yourself and oth-
ers.
The 360° camera will not function or will func-
tion in a limited manner: R
if the doors are open R
if the exterior mirrors are folded in R
if the tailgate is open R
in heavy rain, snow or fog R
at night or in very dark places R
if the cameras are exposed to very bright light R
if the area is lit by fluorescent bulbs or LED
lighting (the display may flicker) R
if there is a sudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into a heated garage in win-
terDriving systems 201
Driving and parking Z

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 387).
Permissible noseweight
You will find installing dimensions and loads
under "Technical data" ( Y
page 387).
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 weight 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 294)
and the safety notes regarding stowage spaces
( Y
page 294).
Information on cleaning and care of the trailer
tow hitch ( Y
page 329).
Trailer power supply
! Accessories with a maximum power con-
sumption of 180 W can be connected to the
permanent power supply.Towing a trailer 227
Driving an d parking Z