2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE ESP

appears in the multifunction display. The last
active drive program is selected again.
Do not use the Offroad program on roads that
are snow-covered or icy or if you have installed
your vehicle with snow chains.
Selecting the Offroad program
Selecting the Offroad program X
To select drive program: turn DYNAMIC
SELECT controller C until indicator lamp D
lights up.
The Drive Program "Offroad1" Max.
Speed 60 mph message appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
The vehicle is raised by +2.4 in (60 mm).
The vehicle is lowered to normal level again if
you: R
drive at speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h) (all
vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles) R
drive at speeds above 43 mph (70 km/h)
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) R
drive between 40 mph (64 km/h) and 50 mph
(80 km/h) for approximately 20 seconds (all
vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles). R
drive at speeds between 40 mph (64 km/ h)
and 43 mph (70 km/ h) for approximately
20 seconds (Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
The vehicle changes from the Offroad drive pro-
gram to the Comfort drive program if you drive
faster than 70 mph (112 km/h).
The Drive More Slowly message appears in
the multifunction display.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
( Y
page 165). Offroad programs (vehicles with Off-
road Engineering package) General notes The Offroad and Offroad Plus drive programs
assist you when driving off-road. The engine's
performance characteristics and the gearshift-
ing characteristics of the automatic transmis-
sion are adapted for this purpose. ABS, ESP ®
and 4ETS programs especially adapted to off-
road driving are activated. An accelerator pedal
curve suitable for the terrain is selected, i.e. the
accelerator pedal must be depressed further to
accelerate.
Do not use the Offroad or Offroad Plus drive
programs on roads that are snow-covered or icy,
or if you have installed your vehicle with snow
chains.
Offroad drive program
C
DYNAMIC SELECT controller D
Offroad program indicator lamp
Select the Offroad program for easily negotia-
ble off-road terrain, e.g. dirt tracks, gravel or
sandy surfaces. The engine's torque is restric-
ted to a limited degree and the drive wheels can
spin. The spinning wheels produce a cutting
effect for better traction. ABS, ESP ®
and 4ETS
programs especially adapted to off-road driving
are activated. A gentle accelerator pedal curve
is also selected, i.e. the accelerator pedal must
be depressed much further in order to acceler-
ate.
You can select the Offroad drive program at
speeds below 60 mph (96 km/h). The Drive
Program "Offroad" Max. Speed 60 mph
message appears in the multifunction display. If
you drive at speeds above 60 mph (96 km/h)
and select the Offroad drive program, the
Drive More Slowly message appears in theDriving systems 215
Driving and parking Z

m
Level controln
Compass with angle scale
Activating the driving dynamics display X
Switch on COMAND (see the Digital Opera-
tor's Manual). X
Press button C .
The driving dynamics display appears in the
COMAND display.
Towing a trailer
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Installing an unsuitable ball coupling may
result in overloading of the trailer tow hitch
and the rear axle. This applies especially if the
ball coupling in question is longer or angled
differently. This could seriously impair the
driving characteristics and the trailer can
come loose. There is a risk of an accident.
You should only ever install a ball coupling
that has the permissible dimensions and that
is designed to meet your trailer-towing
requirements. Do not modify the ball coupling
or the trailer tow hitch.
You will find the values approved by the manu-
facturer on the vehicle identification plates and
those for the towing vehicle under "Technical
data" ( Y
page 394).
G WARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed correctly or
not secured with the bolt provided and the corresponding spring cotter, the trailer may
come loose. There is a risk of an accident.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter.
G WARNING
When the vehicle/trailer combination begins
to lurch, you could lose control of it. The vehi-
cle/trailer combination could even rollover.
There is a risk of an accident.
On no account should you attempt to
straighten up the vehicle/trailer combination
by increasing the speed. Reduce vehicle
speed and do not countersteer. Apply the
brake as necessary.
Please observe the manufacturer's operating
instructions for the trailer coupling if a detach-
able trailer coupling is used.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If you
do not couple the trailer to the towing vehicle
correctly, the trailer could become detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded: R
the permissible trailer drawbar noseweight R
the permissible trailer load R
the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle R
the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
The applicable permissible values, which must
not be exceeded, can be found: R
in the vehicle documents R
on the identification plates for the trailer tow
hitch and the trailer R
on the vehicle identification plate
If the values differ, the lowest value applies.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
with when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination: R
is heavier R
is restricted in its acceleration and gradient-
climbing capability R
has an increased braking distanceTowing a trailer 219
Driving and parking Z

R
Maintain a greater distance from the vehicle
in front than when driving without a trailer. R
Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake gen-
tly at first to allow the trailer to run on. Then,
increase the braking force rapidly. R
The values given for gradient-climbing capa-
bilities from a standstill refer to sea level.
When driving in mountainous areas, note that
the power output of the engine and, conse-
quently, the vehicle's gradient-climbing capa-
bility, decreases with increasing altitude.
Installing the ball coupling
G WARNING
If the ball coupling is not correctly installed
and secured, it can come loose during the
journey and endanger other road users. There
is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter.
G WARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed correctly or
not secured with the bolt provided and the
corresponding spring cotter, the trailer may
come loose. There is a risk of an accident.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter.
G WARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed and secured
correctly the trailer may come loose. There is
a risk of an accident.
Install and secure the ball coupling as descri-
bed in the ball coupling installation instruc-
tions. Make sure that the ball coupling is
installed and secured correctly before every
journey. X
Pull protective cap C in the direction of the
arrow, out of the ball coupling recess. X
Stow protective cap C so that it cannot be
thrown around.
Observe the loading guidelines ( Y
page 295)
and the safety notes regarding stowage
spaces ( Y
page 295).
X
Insert the ball coupling horizontally into ball
coupling recess D in the direction of the
arrow until the holes in ball coupling

Decoupling a trailer
G WARNING
If you uncoupl e a trailer wit h th e overrun
brake engaged, you could trap your han d
between th e vehicle and th e trailer drawbar .
There is a ris k of injury.
Do no t uncoupl e a trailer if th e overrun brake
is engaged.
G WARNING
Vehicles wit h level control:
The vehicle is lowered as soo n as you discon-
nect th e trailer cable. Thi s could result in your
limbs or those of other people that are
between th e vehicle bod y and tires or under-
neat h th e vehicle bein g trapped. There is a
ris k of injury.
Mak e sur e that nobod y is in th e immediate
vicinit y of th e whee l housings or under th e
vehicle when you disconnec t th e trailer cable.
! Do no t disconnec t a trailer wit h an engage d
overrun brake . Otherwise , your vehicle could
be damaged by th e reboundin g of th e overrun
brake .X
Shift th e transmissio n to position P .X
Apply th e vehicle' s electric parking brake .X
Start th e engine.X
Clos e th e doors and tailgate.X
Apply th e trailer's parking brake .X
Detach th e trailer cable and decoupl e th e
trailer .X
Switc h of f th e engine.
Permissible trailer loads an d drawbar
loads
Weight specifications
Maximum allowable gross mass
The gross vehicle weight of th e trailer is calcu-
lated by addin g th e weight of th e trailer to th e
weight of th e load and equipmen t on th e trailer .
You will fin d installin g dimensions and load s
under "Technical data" ( Y
page 394). Permissible noseweigh tYou will fin d installin g dimensions and load s
under "Technical data" ( Y
page 394).
Loading a trailer R
Whe n loadin g th e trailer , mak e sur e that nei-
ther th e permissible gross weight of th e trailer
no r th e gross vehicle weight are exceeded.
The permissible gross vehicle weight is indi-
cated on th e identification plat e located on
th e B-pilla r on th e driver's sid e of th e vehicle.
You can fin d th e maximum permissible values
on th e typ e plates of your vehicle and th e
trailer . Whe n calculatin g how muc h weight
th e vehicle and trailer may carry, pay atten-
tion to th e respective lowest values. R
The trailer drawbar load on th e ball couplin g
mus t be adde d to th e rea r axl e load to avoid
exceedin g th e permissible gross axl e weight .
The permissible gross vehicle weight is indi-
cated on th e identification plat e located on
th e B-pilla r on th e driver's sid e of th e vehicle.
i Mercedes-Ben z recommends a trailer load
wher e th e trailer drawbar noseweigh t
accounts fo r 8 % to 15 % of th e trailer's per -
missible gross weight .
i The weight of additional accessories , pas-
sengers, and cargo reduce s th e permissible
trailer load and drawbar load fo r your vehicle.
Checking th e vehicle an d trailer weigh tR
To chec k that th e weight s of th e towin g vehi-
cl e and th e trailer compl y wit h th e maximum
permissible values, hav e th e vehicle/trailer
combination (includin g th e driver , passen -
gers, and cargo wit h a full y lade n trailer )
weighed on a calibrated weighbridge .R
Chec k th e gross axl e weight ratin g of th e fron t
and rea r axles, th e gross weight of th e trailer
and th e trailer drawbar noseweight.
Removin g th e ball coupling X
Remov e th e sprin g cotter.X
Remov e th e bolt from th e ball couplin g
recess . X
Remov e th e ball couplin g from th e ball cou-
plin g recess .224
Towing a trailer
Driving and parking

Display messages
Introduction
General notes Display messages appear in th e multifunction display.
Display messages wit h graphi c displays may be shown in simplified form in th e Operator's Manual
and may therefore diffe r from th e multifunction display.
Please respon d in accordance wit h th e display messages and follow th e additional note s in this
Operator's Manual.
Certain display messages are accompanied by an audible warnin g tone or a continuous tone .
Whe n you stop and par k th e vehicle, please observ e th e note s on :R
HOLD function ( Y
page 182)R
Parking ( Y
page 156)
Hiding display messages X
Press th e v or 8 butto n on th e steerin g wheel.
The multifunction display hide s th e display message.
High-priorit y display messages are shown in red in th e multifunction display. Some high-priorit y
display messages canno t be hidden .
The multifunction display shows these messages continuously until th e causes fo r th e messages
hav e bee n remedied.
Message memory The on-boar d compute r saves certain display messages in th e message memory . You can cal l up
th e display messages: X
Press Y or e on th e steerin g whee l to selec t th e Serv. menu.
If there are display messages, th e multifunction display shows 2 Messages , fo r example.X
Press th e c or d butto n to selec t th e entry, e.g. 2 messages .X
Press v to confirm .X
Press th e c or d butto n to scroll through th e display messages.
Whe n th e ignition is switched off, all display messages are deleted, apar t from som e high-priorit y
display messages. Once th e causes of th e high-priorit y display messages hav e bee n rectified, th e
correspondin g display messages are also deleted. Display messages 24 3
On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Front Passenger Air ‐
bag Disabled See
Operator' s Manual The front-passenger fron t air bag is deactivated during th e journey,
eve n though : R
an adult
or R
a person of th e correspondin g statur e is on th e front-passenger seat
If additional force s are applie d to th e seat , th e system may interpret
th e occupant's weigh t as lower than it actually is.
G WARNIN G
The front-passenger air bag does no t deploy during an accident.
There is an increased ris k of injury.X
Pull ove r and stop th e vehicl e safely as soo n as possible, payin g
attention to roa d and traffic conditions.X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 156).X
Switc h th e ignition off .X
Hav e th e occupant on th e front-passenger seat get out of th e vehi-
cle . X
Kee p th e seat unoccupied , close th e front-passenger door and
switch on th e ignition .X
Observ e th e PASSENGER AI R BA G indicator lamp s in th e center
console and th e multifunction display and chec k th e following:
Seat unoccupied and ignition switched on :R
a self-diagnosis is carrie d out . The PASSENGER AI R BA G OF F and
PASSENGER AI R BA G ON indicator lamp s mus t ligh t up simulta-
neousl y for approximately six seconds. R
th e PASSENGER AI R BA G OF F indicator lamp mus t then ligh t u p
and remain lit after th e self-diagnosis . If th e indicator lamp is on ,
OCS (Occupant Classification System) has deactivated th e front-
passenger fron t air bag ( Y
page 52)R
th e Front Passenger Airbag Enable d See Operator' s
Manual or Front Passenger Airbag Disabled See Opera‐
tor's Manual display message s mus t no t be shown on th e mul-
tifunction display. X
Wait for a period of at least 60 seconds until th e necessar y system
checks hav e been completed.X
Mak e sur e that th e display message s do no t appear in th e multi-
function display.
If these condition s are fulfilled , th e front-passenger seat can be occu-
pied again . Whether th e PASSENGER AI R BA G OF F or ON indicator
lamp remain s lit or goe s out depend s on how OCS classifies th e occu-
pant.
If th e condition s are no t fulfilled , th e system is no t operating correctly.X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Fo r further information about th e Occupant Classification System, see
( Y
page 52). Display messages 25 3
On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P SolutionsX
Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Fo r further information about th e Occupant Classification System, see
( Y
page 52).
Lights
i Vehicles wit h LE D bulbs in th e ligh t clusters :
The display message for th e correspondin g lamp only appear s when all of th e LEDs in th e lamp
hav e failed.
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
I Check Lef t Low Bea m
(Example) The bulb in question is malfunctioning .X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
or X
Chec k whether you are permitte d to replace th e bulb yourself
( Y
page 115).
I Active Headlamps
Inoperative The active ligh t function is faulty.X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
I Intell . Light Sys ‐
tem Inoperative The Intelligent Light Syste m is faulty. The lights remain available with-
out th e Intelligent Light System. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
I Malfunction See
Operator' s Manual The exterio r lighting is malfunctioning .X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
Vehicles wit h trailer to w hitch : a fus e may hav e blown .X
Pull ove r and stop th e vehicl e safely as soo n as possible, payin g
attention to roa d and traffic conditions.X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 156).X
Chec k th e fuses ( Y
page 348).X
If necessary, replace th e blown fuse. Observ e th e warning notes.
If th e multifunction display still shows th e display message :X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
I Malfunction See
Operator' s Manual The exterio r lighting is malfunctioning .X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
I Aut o Lam p Function
Inoperative The ligh t sensor is defective. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .Display messages 25 5
On-board computer and displays Z

Tires Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Check Tire Pressure
Soon The tire pressure loss warning system has detected a significant loss
in pressure.
A warning tone also sounds.
Possible causes: R
you have changed the positions of the wheels and tires or installed
new wheels and tires. R
the tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped significantly
G WARNING
Tire pressures that are too low pose the following hazards: R
they may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed increase. R
they may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly
impair tire traction. R
the driving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may be
greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident. X
Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so. X
Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y
page 156).X
Check the tires and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a flat
tire ( Y
page 335). X
Check the tire pressures and, if necessary, correct the tire pressure. X
Restart the tire pressure loss warning system when the tire pres-
sure is correct ( Y
page 358).
Check Tire Pressure
Then Restart Run
Flat Indicator The tire pressure loss warning system generated a display message
and has not been restarted since. X
Set the correct tire pressure in all four tires. X
Restart the tire pressure loss warning system ( Y
page 358).
Run Flat Indicator
Inoperative The tire pressure loss warning system is faulty. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
Please Correct Tire
Pressure The tire pressure is too low in at least one of the tires, or the tire
pressure difference between the wheels is too great. X
Check the tire pressures at the next opportunity ( Y
page 358).X
If necessary, correct the tire pressure. X
Restart the tire pressure monitor ( Y
page 361).268
Displa y messages
On-board computer and displays