2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA SUV Owner's Manual

GWARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
Rthe engine is not running
Rthe brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning
Rthere is a malfunction in the power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system
When your vehicle is towed away or towed
started, you may require considerably more
effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before being
towed away or tow started, make sure the
steering moves freely.
XPull oil dipstick :out of the dipstick guide
tube.
XWipe off oil dipstick :.
XSlowly slide oil dipstick :into the guide tube
to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark =and MAX
mark ;, the oil level is correct.
XIf the oil level has dropped to MIN mark =or
below, add 1.1 US qt (1.0 liter) of engine oil.
Adding engine oil
GWARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following.
GWARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot com- ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that engine oil is not spilled next to
the filler neck. Let the engine cool down and
thoroughly clean the engine oil off the com-
ponents before starting the engine.
HEnvironmental note
When adding oil, take care not to spill any. If
oil enters the soil or waterways, it is harmful to
the environment.
!Use only engine oils and oil filters that are
approved for vehicles with a service system. A list of the engine oils and oil filters that have
been tested and approved in accordance with
Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service
Products is available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The following cause engine failure or damage
to the exhaust system:
RUse of engine oils and oil filters that have
not been expressly approved for the service
system
RReplacement of engine oil and oil filter after
the replacement interval specified by the
service system has expired
RUse of engine oil additives
!Do not add too much oil. adding too much
engine oil can result in damage to the engine
or to the catalytic converter. Have excess
engine oil siphoned off.
Engine compartment271
Maintenance and care
Z

Example: engine oil cap
XTurn cap:counter-clockwise and remove it.
XAdd engine oil.
If the oil level is at or below the MIN mark on
the oil dipstick, add 1.1 US qt (1.0 liter) of
engine oil.
XReplace cap :on the filler neck and turn
clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place securely.
XCheck the oil level again with the oil dipstick
(Ypage 270).
Further information on engine oil (
Ypage 330).
Checking and adding other service
products
Checking coolant level
GWARNING
The cooling system is pressurized, particularly
when the motor is warm. If you open the cap,
you could be scalded if hot coolant sprays out.
There is a risk of injury.
Let the engine cool down before you open the
cap. Wear gloves and eye protection. Slowly
open the cap to relieve pressure.
!The coolant may only be checked and cor-
rected when the engine is cool (coolant tem-
perature below 104 ‡ (40 †). Checking the
coolant when the coolant temperature is
above 104 ‡ (40 †) may result in damage to
the engine or to the engine cooling system.
XPark the vehicle on a level surface.
Only check the coolant level when the vehicle is on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 124).
XCheck the coolant temperature display in the
instrument cluster.
The coolant temperature must be below
104 ‡ (40 †).
XTurn the SmartKey to position g
(Ypage 124) in the ignition lock .
XSlowly turn cap :counter-clockwise and to
relieve excess pressure.
XTurn cap :further counter-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar =
in the filler neck when cold, there is enough
coolant in coolant expansion tank ;.
XIf necessary, add coolant that has been tested
and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
XReplace cap :and turn it clockwise as far as
it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(
Ypage 331).
Windshield washer system
GWARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following.
272Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

GWARNING
Windshield washer concentrate could ignite if it comes into contact with hot engine compo-
nents or the exhaust system. There is a risk of
fire and injury.
Make sure that no windshield washer con-
centrate is spilled next to the filler neck.
XTo open: pull cap:upwards by the tab.
XAdd the premixed washer fluid.
XTo close: press cap :onto the filler neck
until it engages.
If the washer fluid level drops below the recom-
mended minimum of 1 liter, a message appears
in the multifunction display prompting you to
add washer fluid (
Ypage 225).
Further information on windshield washer fluid/
antifreeze (
Ypage 332).
ASSYST PLUS
Service message
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
informs you of the next service due date.
You can find information on the type of service
and service intervals in the Maintenance Book-
let.
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
iThe ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not show any information on the engine
oil level. Observe the notes on the engine oil
level (
Ypage 270). The multifunction display shows a service mes-
sage for several seconds, e.g.:
RService A in .. days
RService A due
RService A overdue by .. days
Depending on the operating conditions of the
vehicle, the remaining time or distance until the
next service due date is displayed.
The letter A
orB, possibly in connection with a
number or another letter, indicates the type of
service. A
stands for a minor service and Bfor a
major service.
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display does
not take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Maintaining the time-dependent service sched-
ule:
XNote down the service due date displayed in
the multifunction display before disconnect-
ing the battery.
or
XAfter reconnecting the battery, subtract the
battery disconnection periods from the ser-
vice date shown on the display.
Hiding a service message
XPress the aor% button on the steering
wheel.
Displaying service messages
XSwitch on the ignition.
XPress the =or; button to select the
Serv.menu.
XPress the 9or: button to select the
ASSYSTPLUSsubmenu and confirm by press-
ing the abutton.
The service due date appears in the multi-
function display.
ASSYST PLUS273
Maintenance and care
Z

Information about Service
Resetting the ASSYST PLUS service
interval display
!If th eASSYS TPLU Sservic einterval display
has been inadvertentl yreset ,this setting can
be correcte dat aqualified specialist work-
shop.
Hav eservic ewor kcarried out as describe din
th eMaintenance Booklet .This may otherwise
lead to increased wear and damag eto th e
major assemblies or th evehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an author-
ize dMercedes-Ben zCenter, will reset th e
ASSYS TPLU Sservic einterval display after th e
servic ewor khas been carried out .You can also
obtain further information on maintenance
work, for example.
Special service requirements
The specifie dmaintenance interval takes only
th enormal operation of th evehicl eint o
account. Under arduous operating condition sor
increased load on th evehicle, maintenance
wor kmust be carried out mor efrequently, for
example:
Rregular cit ydriving wit hfrequen tintermediat e
stops
Rif th evehicl eis primarily used to travel short
distances
Ruse in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces
Rif th eengin eis often lef tidlin gfor lon gperiods
Rin particularly dust yconditions, or if air-recir-
culation mod eis frequentl yused
In these or similar operating conditions, have
th einterio rfilter, engin eair cleaner, engin eoil
and oil filter, for example, changed mor efre-
quently. Under arduous operating conditions,
th etires must be checke dmor eoften .Further
information can be obtained at aqualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. an authorize dMercedes-
Ben zCenter.
Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Ben zService network is
also available in other countries .You can obtain
further information from any authorize d
Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
Care
General notes
HEnvironmental not e
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloth sin an environmentally responsible man -
ner.
!When cleaning your car ,do no tuse:
Rdry, coars eor har dcloth s
Rabrasive cleaning agents
Rsolvents
Rcleaning agents containing solvents
Do no tscrub.
Do no ttouch th esurfaces and film swit hhar d
objects ,e.g. rings or ice scrapers. Otherwise,
you may scratch or damag eth esurfaces and
films.
!Do no tpark your vehicl efor alon gperiod of
time directly after cleaning ,particularly after
cleaning th ewhee lrim wit hwhee lcleaner.
Whee lcleane rcan lead to th eincreased cor-
rosion of th ebrak edisc sand pads. Therefore,
driv efor afew minute safter cleaning .By
heating up th ebrakes, th ebrak edisc sand
pads dry. The vehicl ecan then be parked for a
lon gperiod of time.
Regular car eof your vehicl eis acondition for
retaining th equalit yin th elon gterm .
Use car eproducts and cleaning agents recom-
mended and approve dby Mercedes-Benz.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash
GWARNIN G
Braking efficiency is reduce dafter washing
th evehicle. Ther eis aris kof an accident.
Afte rth evehicl ehas been washed, brak e
carefully while payin gattention to th etraffic
condition suntil full braking power is restored .
!When DistancePilot DISTRONI Cor th e
HOLD function is activated, th evehicl e
brakes automatically in certain situations.
274Care
Maintenance and care

To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC and the HOLD
function in the following or similar situations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
!Make sure that the automatic transmission
is in transmission position iwhen washing
your vehicle in a tow-through car wash. The
vehicle may be damaged in another transmis-
sion position.
!Make sure that:
Rthe side windows and sliding sunroof are
closed completely
Rthe blower is switched off
Rthe windshield wiper switch is in position
u
Rthe 360° camera or the rear view camera is
deactivated
The vehicle may otherwise be damaged.
You can clean the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
Preferably, you should wash the vehicle in a car
wash that uses fabric washing elements without
brushes. This will prevent fine scratches to the
paintwork or decorative films.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off wax
from the windshield and the wiper blades. This
will prevent smears and reduce wiping noises
caused by residue on the windshield.
iVehicles with decorative films: when using a
car wash, choose a wash program without hot
wax.
Washing by hand
In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements in each country.
XDo not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
XUse a soft sponge to clean.
XUse a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
XThoroughly hose down the vehicle with a gen-
tle jet of water.
XDo not point the water jet directly towards the
air inlet or the edges of decorative foils.
XUse plenty of water and rinse out the sponge
frequently.
XRinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
XDo not let the cleaning agent dry on the paint- work or the decorative foils.
Carefully remove all deposits of road salt as
soon as possible when driving in winter.
Power washers
GWARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
!Vehicles with decorative foil: parts of your
vehicle are covered with decorative foil. Main-
tain a distance of at least 27.5 in (70 cm)
between the foil-wrapped parts of the vehicle
and the nozzle of the high pressure cleaner.
Information about the correct distance is
available from the equipment manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
The water temperature of the high-pressure
cleaner must not exceed 140 °F (60 °C).
!Always maintain a distance of at least
11.8 in (30 cm) between the vehicle and the
power washer nozzle. Information about the
correct distance is available from the equip-
ment manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
Rtires
Rdoor gaps, roof gaps, joints, etc.
Relectrical components
Rbattery
Care275
Maintenance and care
Z

Rplug-type couplings
Rlights
Rseals
Rtrim
Rventilation slots
Damaged seals or electrical components can
lead to leaks or failures.
Cleaning the paintwork
!Do not affix:
Rstickers
Rfilms
Rmagnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected by
corrosion and damage caused by inadequate
care cannot always be completely repaired. In
such cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
XRemove dirt immediately, where possible,
while avoiding rubbing too hard.
XSoak insect remains with insect remover and
rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
XSoak bird droppings with water and rinse off
the treated areas afterwards.
XRemove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin, oils,
fuels and greases by rubbing gently with a
cloth soaked in petroleum ether or lighter
fluid.
XUse tar remover to remove tar stains.
XUse silicone remover to remove wax.
If water no longer forms "beads" on the paint
surface, use the paint care products recommen-
ded and approved by Mercedes-Benz. This is the
case approximately every three to five months,
depending on the climate conditions and the
care product used.
If dirt has penetrated the paint surface or if the
paint has become dull, the paint cleaner recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz
should be used.
Do not use these care products in the sun or on
the hood while the hood is hot.
XUse a suitable touch-up stick, e.g. MB Touch-
Up Stick, to repair slight damage to the paint-
work quickly and provisionally.
Matte finish care
!Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing causes the finish to shine.
!The following can give the paint a glossy
appearance and thus reduce the matt effect:
RRubbing hard with unsuitable agents
RWashing the vehicle in direct sunlight
!Never use paint cleaner, buffing or polishing
products, or gloss preserver, e.g. wax, for the
purpose of paintwork care. These products
are only suitable for high-gloss surfaces. Their
use on vehicles with matte paintwork leads to
considerable surface damage or, more spe-
cifically, to shiny, spotted areas.
Always have paintwork repairs carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
!Only use automatic car washes which cor-
respond to the latest technological stand-
ards. Never use wash programs which finish
by treating the vehicle with hot wax.
Observe these notes if your vehicle has a clear
matte finish. This will help you to avoid damage
to the paintwork due to incorrect treatment.
These notes also apply to light alloy wheels with
a clear matte finish.
Use only insect remover and car shampoo from the range of approved Mercedes-Benz care
products.
Cleaning the decorative film
!The following may have an effect on the ser-
vice life and coloring of decorative film:
Rsunlight
Rtemperature, e.g. hot-air fan
Rweather conditions
Rstone impacts and dirt
Rchemical cleaning agents
Rgreasy substances
!Do not use any types of polish on matt dec-
orative film. Polishing surfaces covered with
film gives it a shiny finish.
!Do not treat matt or structured decorative
film with wax. This may lead to marks that
cannot be removed.
Observe the notes in the section on the care and treatment of matte paintwork (
Ypage 276),
these notes also apply to matte decorative film.
276Care
Maintenance and care

To clean, use plenty of water and a mild cleaning
agent without additional or abrasive products,
e.g. a car shampoo approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
XDry vehicles covered with film using a soft,
absorbent cloth after every wash.
Water marks could otherwise form.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected by
corrosion and damage caused by inadequate
care cannot always be completely repaired. In
such cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
XRemove dirt immediately, where possible,
while avoiding rubbing too hard.
The decorative film may be irreparably dam-
aged.
XSoak insect remains with insect remover and
rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
XSoak bird droppings with water and rinse off
the treated areas afterwards.
The cleaning product, Paint Cleaner, which has
been approved and recommended by
Mercedes-Benz, should be used when dirt has
penetrated the decorative film surface or the
decorative film has become dull.
The manufacturer can provide you with infor-
mation on special care and cleaning products.
Laminated surfaces may exhibit optical differ-
ences to surfaces which were not protected by a
decorative film when the decorative film is
removed.
iHave work or repairs on decorative film car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for this
purpose.
Cleaning the vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels
GWARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
!Do not use acidic wheel cleaning products
to remove brake dust. This could damage
wheel bolts and brake components.
!Do not park your vehicle for a long period of
time directly after cleaning, particularly after
cleaning the wheel rim with wheel cleaner.
Wheel cleaner can lead to the increased cor-
rosion of the brake discs and pads. 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 for a
long period of time.
Cleaning the windows
GWARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
!Only fold the windshield wipers away from
the windshield when vertical. Otherwise, you
will damage the hood.
!Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-
vents to clean the inside of the windows. Do
not touch the insides of the windows with
hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or ring. There
is otherwise a risk of damaging the windows.
!Clean the water drainage channels of the
windshield and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals and
pollen may under certain circumstances pre-
vent water from draining away. This can lead
to corrosion damage and damage to elec-
tronic components.
XClean the inside and outside of the windows
with a damp cloth and a cleaning product that
is recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Care277
Maintenance and care
Z

Cleaning wiper blades
GWARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
!Only fold the windshield wipers away from
the windshield when vertical. Otherwise, you
will damage the hood.
!Do not pull the wiper blade. Otherwise, the
wiper blade could be damaged.
!Do not clean wiper blades too often and do
not rub them too hard. Otherwise, the graph-
ite coating could be damaged. This could
cause wiper noise.
!Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windshield could be damaged if the
wiper arm smacks against it suddenly.
XFold the windshield wiper arms away from the
windshield.
XCarefully clean the wiper blades with a damp
cloth.
XFold the windshield wiper arms back again
before switching on the ignition.
Cleaning the exterior lighting
!Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
which are suitable for plastic light lenses.
Unsuitable cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
could scratch or damage the plastic light len- ses.
XClean the plastic lenses of the exterior lights
with a wet sponge and a mild cleaning agent,
e.g. Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or cleaning
cloths.
Cleaning the mirror turn signals
!Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
that are suitable for plastic lenses. Unsuitable
cleaning agents or cleaning cloths could
scratch or damage the plastic lenses of the
mirror turn signals.
XClean the plastic lenses of the mirror turn sig-
nals in the exterior mirror housing using a wet
sponge and mild cleaning agent, e.g.
Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or cleaning
cloths.
Cleaning the sensors
!If you clean the sensors with a power
washer, make sure that you keep a distance
of at least 11.8 in (30 cm)betwee nthe vehicl e
and the power washer nozzle. Information
about the correct distance is available from
the equipment manufacturer.
XClean sensors :of the driving systems with
water, car shampoo and a soft cloth.
Cleaning the rear view camera
!Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the rear view camera with a power
washer.
278Care
Maintenance and care