2017 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS sensor

Exterior lighting
General notes For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched on
even during the daytime. In some countries,
operation of the headlamps varies due to legal
requirements and self-imposed obligations.
Setting the exterior lighting
Setting options Exterior lighting can be set using: R
the light switch R
the combination switch ( Y
page 113)R
the on-board computer ( Y
page 239)
Light switch
Operation
G c
Left-hand standing lampsH d
Right-hand standing lampsI `
Parking lamps, license plate and
instrument cluster lightingJ q
Automatic headlamp mode, controlled
by the light sensor
K X
Low-beam/high-beam headlamps

The daytime running lamps improve the visibility
of your vehicle during the day. To do this, the
daytime running lamps function must be
switched on using the on-board computer
( Y
page 239).
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to ` or X , the manual settings
take precedence over the daytime running
lamps.
Low-beam headlamps Even if the light sensor does not detect that it is
dark, the parking lamps and low-beam head-
lamps switch on when the ignition is switched on
and the light switch is set to the X position.
This is a particularly useful function in the event
of rain and fog. X
To switch on the low-beam headlamps:
turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to posi-
tion 2 or start the engine.X
Turn the light switch to X .
The green X indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
Rear fog lamp The rear fog lamp improves visibility of your
vehicle for the traffic behind in the event of thick
fog. Please take note of the country-specific
regulations for the use of rear fog lamps. X
To switch on the rear fog lamp: turn the
SmartKey in the ignition lock to position 2 or
start the engine. X
Turn the light switch to X or q .X
Press the ^ button.
The yellow ^ indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. X
To switch off the rear fog lamp: press the
^ button.
The yellow ^ indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Parking lamps
! If the battery charge is very low, the parking
lamps or standing lamps are automatically
switched off to enable the next engine start.
Always park your vehicle safely and in a well lit
area, in accordance with the relevant legal
stipulations. Avoid using the ` parking
lamps over a period of several hours. If pos-
sible, switch on the right-hand d or left-
hand c standing lamps. X
To switch on: turn the light switch to ` .
The green ` indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
Standing lamps Switching on the standing lamps ensures the
corresponding side of t he vehicle is illuminated.X
To switch on the standing lamps: the
SmartKey should not be in the ignition lock or
it should be in position 0 .X
Turn the light switch to c (left-hand side of
the vehicle) or d (right-hand side of the
vehicle).
Vehicles towing a trailer: both the right-hand
and left-hand standing lamps (tail lamps) are
always illuminated on the trailer.
Combination switch
C
High-beam headlamps D
Turn signal, right

Not active: if you are driving at speeds below
80 km/h following activation.
Extended range fog lamps The extended range fog lamps reduce the glare
experienced by the driver and improve the illu-
mination of the edge of the road.
Active: if you are driving at speeds below
40 mph (70 km/h) and you switch on the rear
fog lamp.
Not active: if, following activation, you are driv-
ing at speeds above 60 mph (100 km/h) or if you
switch off the rear fog lamp
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 low-beam headlamps.
Active: when driving at speeds no faster than
30 mph (50 km/h) and the off-road program
selector wheel is in position 1 or 2.
Not active: when driving at speeds above
30 mph (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.
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 only be
activated when the low-beam headlamps are
switched on.
Active: R
if you are driving at speeds below 25 mph
(40 km/h) and switch on the turn signal or
turn the steering wheel R
if you are driving at speeds between 25 mph
(40 km/h) and 45 mph (70 km/h) and turn
the steering wheel
The cornering lamp may remain lit for a short
time, but is automatically switched off after no
more than three minutes. Adaptive Highbeam Assist
General notes You can use this function to set the headlamps
to change between low beam and high beam
automatically. The system recognizes vehicles
with their lights on, either approaching from the
opposite direction or traveling in front of your
vehicle, and consequently switches the head-
lamps from high beam to low beam.
The system automatically adapts the low-beam
headlamp range depending on the distance to
the other vehicle. Once the system no longer
detects any other vehicles, it reactivates the
high-beam headlamps.
The system's optical sensor is located behind
the windshield near the overhead control panel.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Adaptive Highbeam Assist does not recognize
road users: R
who have no lights, e.g. pedestrians R
who have poor lighting, e.g. cyclists R
whose lighting is blocked, e.g. by a barrier
On very rare occasions, Adaptive Highbeam
Assist may fail to recognize other road users
that have lights, or may recognize them too
late. In this, or in similar situations, the auto-
matic high-beam headlamps will not be deac-
tivated or will be activated regardless. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always carefully observe the traffic conditions
and switch off the high-beam headlamps in
good time.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist cannot take into
account road, weather or traffic conditions.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist is only an aid. You are
responsible for adjusting the vehicle's lighting
to the prevailing light, visibility and traffic con-
ditions.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if: R
poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or
snow R
dirt on the sensors or the sensors are
obscuredExterior lighting 115
Lights and windshield wiper s Z

Combination swit ch
G
? Windshield wiper offH
b Intermittent wipe, low (rain sensor set
to low sensitivity)I
c Intermittent wipe, high (rain sensor
set to high sensitivity)J

Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
Important safety notes The sensor system of some driving and driving
safety systems adjusts automatically while a
certain distance is being driven after the vehicle
has been delivered or after repairs. Full system
effectiveness is not reached until the end of this
teach-in procedure.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after several
hundred kilometers of driving. Compensate for
this by applying greater force to the brake pedal.
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) The more you look after the engine when it is
new, the more satisfied you will be with its per-
formance in the future. R
You should therefore drive at varying vehicle
and engine speeds for the first 1000 miles
(1500 km). R
Avoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full throttle,
during this period. R
Change gear in good time, before the tach-
ometer needle is

R
you activat e th e Offroad Plus progra m (vehi-
cle s wit h th e Off-Road Engineerin g package)R
you shift th e transmission to position N while
drivin g
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear a
warnin g tone . You will see th e Cruise Con ‐
tro l Off message in th e multifunction display
for approximately fiv e seconds.
i Whe n you switch off th e engine, th e last
speed store d is cleared .
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
Gene ra l notesDistanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C regulates th e speed
and automatically help s you maintai n th e dis-
tance to th e vehicl e detecte d in front. Vehicles
are detecte d wit h th e aid of th e rada r sensor
system. Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C brakes auto-
matically so that th e set speed is no t exceeded .
You mus t select a lower gear in goo d time on
lon g and steep downhill gradients , especially if
th e vehicl e is laden or towin g a trailer . By doin g
so, you will mak e use of th e brakin g effec t of th e
engine. This relieves th e load on th e brak e sys-
te m and prevents th e brakes from overheating
and wearin g to o quickly.
If Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C detects that there is
a ris k of a collision , you will be warned visually
and acoustically. Without your intervention , Dis-
tance Pilo t DISTRONI C canno t preven t a colli-
sion . An intermittent warnin g tone will then
soun d and th e distanc e warnin g lamp will ligh t
up in th e instrumen t cluster. Brake immediately
in order to increase th e distanc e to th e vehicl e in
fron t or tak e evasive action provided it is saf e to
do so.
Fo r Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C to assist you
when driving, th e rada r sensor system mus t be
operational.
Dis tanc e P
ilo t DISTRONI C operate s in th e range
between 0 mph (0 km/h) and 12 0 mph
(20 0 km/h).
Do no t use Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C while driv-
in g on roads wit h steep gradients .
Since Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C transmit s rada r
waves, it can resemble th e rada r detectors of
th e responsibl e authorities. You can refer to th e
relevan t chapter in th e Operator' s Manual if
question s are asked about this. i US A only:
This device has been approve d by th e FCC as
a "Vehicular Radar System". The rada r sensor
is intended for use in an automotive rada r
system only. Removing, tamperin g with, or
altering th e device will voi d any warranties,
and is no t permitte d by th e FCC. Do no t tam -
per with, alter, or use in any non-approve d
way.
An y unauthorize d modification to this device
could voi d th e user’s authorit y to operate th e
equipment.
i Canada only: This device complies wit h
RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subjec t to th e followin g tw o conditions:
1. This device may no t caus e harmful inter-
ference , and
2. This device mus t accept any interferenc e
received, includin g interferenc e that may
caus e undesired operation of th e device .
Removal, tampering, or altering of th e d evice
w
ill voi d any warranties, and is no t permitted.
Do no t tamper with, alter, or use in any non-
approve d way.
An y unauthorize d modification to this device
could voi d th e user's authorit y to operate th e
equipment.
Imp or tant safety notes
G WARNIN G
Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C does no t reac t to :R
people or animals R
stationary objects on th e road, e.g. stoppe d
or parked vehicles R
oncomin g vehicles and crossin g traffic
As a result , Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C may
neither giv e warnings no r interven e in suc h
situations. There is a ris k of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to th e traffic sit -
uation and be read y to brake.
G WARNIN G
Distanc e Pilo t DISTRONI C canno t always
clearly identify other roa d user s and complex
traffic situations.174
Driving systems
Driving and parking

In such cases, Distance Pilot DISTRONIC may: R
give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle R
neither give a warning nor intervene R
accelerate or brake unexpectedly
There is a risk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to
brake, especially if Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
warns you.
G WARNING
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC brakes your vehicle
with up to 50% of the maximum possible
deceleration. If this deceleration is not suffi-
cient, Distance Pilot DISTRONIC alerts you
with a visual and acoustic warning. There is a
risk of an accident.
Apply the brakes yourself in these situations
and try to take evasive action.
! When Distance Pilot DISTRONIC or the
HOLD function is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or similar situations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
If you fail to adapt your driving style, Distance
Pilot DISTRONIC can neither reduce the risk of
an accident nor override the laws of physics.
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC cannot take into
account road, weather or traffic conditions. Dis-
tance Pilot DISTRONIC is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time
and for staying in your lane.
Do not use Distance Pilot DISTRONIC: R
in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed, e.g. in
heavy traffic or on winding roads R
on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid R
when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow Distance Pilot DISTRONIC may not detect nar-
row vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if: R
there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors R
there is snow or heavy rain R
there is interference by other radar sources R
there are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple, in parking garages
If Distance Pilot DISTRONIC no longer detects a
vehicle in front, it may unexpectedly accelerate
to the speed stored.
This speed may: R
be too high if you are driving in a filter lane or
an exit lane R
be so high when driving in the right-hand lane
that you overtake vehicles in the left-hand
lane R
be so high when driving in the left-hand lane
that you overtake vehicles in the right-hand
lane
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever
C
Activates or increases speed
D
Activates or reduces speed

Range of the sensors General notes Parking Assist PARKTRONIC does not take into
account obstacles located: R
below the detection range, e.g. people, ani-
mals or objects. R
above the detection range, e.g. overhanging
loads, truck overhangs or loading ramps.
C
Sensors in the front bumper, left-hand side
(example)
The sensors must be free from dirt, ice or slush.
They can otherwise not function correctly. Clean
the sensors regularly, taking care not to scratch
or damage them ( Y
page 328). Range
Front sensors
Center Approx. 40 in (approx.
100 cm)
Corners Approx. 24 in (approx.
60 cm)
Rear sensors
Center Approx. 48 in (approx.
120 cm)
Corners Approx. 32 in (approx.
80 cm)
Minimum distance
Center Approx. 8 in (approx. 20 cm)
Corners Approx. 6 in (approx. 15 cm)
If there is an obstacle within this range, the rel-
evant warning displays light up and a warning
tone sounds. If the distance falls below the min-
imum, the distance may no longer be shown.Driving systems 191
Driving and parking Z