2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV ignition

Further information on engine oil (Ypage 389).
Additional service products
Important safety notes
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
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 level may only be checked and cool-
ant refilled when the engine and engine cooling
system have cooled down.
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.
Checking coolant level
XPark the vehicle on a level surface.
Only check the coolant level when the vehicleis on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 140).
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice (
Ypage 142).
XCheck the coolant temperature gauge in the
multifunction display.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).
XTurn the SmartKey to position in the ignition
lock u(Ypage 140).
XOn vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button (Ypage 142).
XPress the Start/Stop button (Ypage 142).
XSlowly turn cap :half a turn counter-clock-
wise and allow excess pressure to escape.
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 ;.
If the coolant level is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar =in the filler neck
when warm, there is enough coolant in expan-
sion 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 390).
328Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

Adding washer fluid to the windshield
washer system
Example: washer fluidreservoir
XTo open :pull cap :upwards by th etab .
XAddth epremixed washer fluid .
XTo close:press cap :onto th efiller neck
until it engages.
If th ewasher fluid level drops belo wtherecom-
mended minimum of 1liter, amessage appear s
in th emultifunction display prompting you to
add washer fluid (
Ypage 278).
Further information on windshield washer fluid
(
Ypage 391).
ASSYST PLUS
Service message
i
If th escheduled servic eintervals are excee-
ded, this may result in damag eto th evehicle.
You can obtain up-to-date information concern -
ing th eservicing of your vehicl efrom aqualified
specialis tworkshop ,e.g. an authorize d
Mercedes-Benz Cente ror at
http://www.mbusa.co m(US Aonly).
iThe ASSYS TPLU Sservic einterval display
does no tsho wany information on th eengin e
oil level. Observ eth enote son th eengin eoil
level (
Ypage 326).
The multifunction display shows aservic emes -
sage for several seconds, e.g. :
RService Ain .. Day s
RService ADue
RServic e AExceeded by .. Day s
Dependingon th eoperating condition sof th e
vehicle, th eremaining time or distanc euntil th e
next servic edue dat eis displayed. The lette
rA
or B,possibl yin connection wit h a
number or another letter, shows th etyp eof ser -
vice. A
stand sfor aminor servic eand Bfora
major service.
Further information can be obtained at aquali-
fie dspecialist workshop .
The ASSYS TPLU Sservic einterval display does
no ttak eint oaccoun tany periods of time during
whic hth ebattery is disconnected.
Maintainin gth etime-dependen tservic esched-
ule:
XNot edown th eservic edue dat edisplayed in
th emultifunction display before disconnect -
ing th ebattery.
or
XAfte rreconnecting th ebattery, subtrac tth e
battery disconnection periods from th eser -
vic edat eshown on th edisplay.
Hiding a service message
XPress th e% ora buttonon th esteering
wheel.
Displaying service messages
XSwitc hon th eignition .
XPress th e= or; buttonon th esteering
whee lto select th eServ.menu.
XPress th e9 or: buttonto select th e
ASSYSTPLU Ssubmen uand confirm by press-
ing th ea button.
The servic edue dat eappear sin th emulti-
function display.
Infor mation 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 kcarrie dout as described in
th eMaintenance Booklet .This may otherwise
lead to increased wear and damag eto th e
major assemblies or th evehicle.
ASSYST PLUS329
Maintenance and care
Z

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:
Rthe side windows and the sliding sunroof
are fully closed.
Rthat the blower of the ventilation/heating
system is switched off (OFF button has
been pressed).
Rthe windshield wiper switch is at position
g.
The vehicle may otherwise be damaged.
!In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission is
in transmission position i; otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
RVehicles with a SmartKey:
Do not remove the SmartKey from the igni-
tion lock. Do not open the driver's door or
front-passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position jauto-
matically and locks the wheels. You can
prevent this by shifting the automatic trans-
mission to ibeforehand.
RVehicles with KEYLESS-GO:
Do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position jauto-
matically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position i:
XMake sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
XTurn the SmartKey to position in the ignition
lock2(Ypage 140).
Use the SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop
button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift the automatic transmission to position
i.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake.
XSwitch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
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 t
he windshield.
Washing by hand
In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements in all countries
concerned.
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 inlets.
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.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible.
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.
Care331
Maintenance and care
Z

iUse only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of recommended and
approved Mercedes-Benz care products.
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.
!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.
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.
!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 (Ypage 123).
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 light-
ing using a wet sponge and a mild cleaning
agent, e. g. Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or
cleaning cloths.
Care333
Maintenance and care
Z

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 side running board
!Do not clean the aluminum inserts of the
side running board with alkaline or acidic
cleaners, such as wheel cleaner. Do not use
acidic wheel cleaners to remove brake dust.
The aluminum inserts could otherwise be
damaged.
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) between the vehicle
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 and 360°
camera
!Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the rear view camera or 360° camera
with a power washer.
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the SmartKey is in position 2in the ignition
lock.
XOpen the camera cover for cleaning via the
multimedia system (see Digital Operator's
Manual).
XTo clean the camera: use clean water and a
soft cloth to clean the camera lens :.
360° camera: if you drive at speeds above
20 mph (30 km/h) or with the SmartKey in posi-
tion uor1 in the ignition lock, the cover of
the 360° camera closes.
Cleaning the exhaust pipe
GWARNING
The exhaust tail pipe and tail pipe trim can
become very hot. If you come into contact
with these parts of the vehicle, you could burn
yourself. There is a risk of injury.
Always be particularly careful around the
exhaust tail pipe and the tail pipe trim. Allow
these components to cool down before touch-
ing them.
!Vehicles with black exhaust pipes: black
chromed screens should not be polished with
a chrome polish. They will otherwise lose their
black shine. For optimal care, the screens
should be rubbed with a lightly oiled cloth
after every car wash. Commercially available
engine and care oils are suitable for this.
334Care
Maintenance and care

XIf possible, bring the front wheels into the
straight-ahead position.
XVehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
make sure that the normal vehicle level is
selected (
Ypage 190).
XVehicles with the Off-Road Engineering
package:make sure that the normal level is
selected (
Ypage 184).
XSwitch off the engine.
XVehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the driv-
er's door.
The vehicle electronics are now in position
u. This means no SmartKey is in the ignition
lock.
XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(
Ypage 140).
XMake sure that the passengers are not endan-
gered as they do so. Make sure that no one is near the danger area while a wheel is being
changed. Anyone who is not directly assisting
in the wheel change should, for example,
stand behind the barrier.
XGet out of the vehicle. Pay attention to traffic
conditions when doing so.
XClose the driver's door.
XUnload heavy luggage.
iOnly operate the tire inflation compressor
using a 12 V socket, even if the ignition is
turned off (
Ypage 312).
An emergency cut-out ensures that the on-
board voltage does not drop too low. If the on-
board voltage is too low, the power to the
sockets is automatically cut. This ensures
that there is sufficient power to start the
engine.
MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties)
General notes
With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat char-
acteristics), you can continue to drive your vehi-
cle even if there is a total loss of pressure in one
or more tires. The affected tire must not show
any clearly visible damage.
You can recognize a MOExtended tire by the
MOExtended marking which appears on the sidewall of the tire. You will find this marking
next to the tire size designation, the load-bear-
ing capacity and the speed index (
Ypage 369).
MOExtended tires may only be used in conjunc-
tion with an active tire pressure loss warning
system or with an active tire pressure monitor.
If a pressure loss warning message appears
in the multifunction display:
Robserve the instructions in the display mes-
sages (Ypage 273).
Rcheck the tire for damage
Rif driving on, observe the following notes
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is
approximately 50 miles (80 km) when the vehi-
cle is partially laden and approximately 18 miles
(30 km) when the vehicle is fully laden.
In addition to the vehicle load, the driving dis-
tance possible depends upon:
RVehicle speed
RRoad condition
ROutside temperature
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
may be reduced by extreme driving conditions
or maneuvers, or it can be increased through a
moderate style of driving.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is
counted from the moment the tire pressure loss
warning appears in the multifunction display.
You must not exceed a maximum permissible
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
iWhen replacing one or all tires, please
observe the following specifications for your
vehicle's tires:
Rsize
Rtype and
Rthe "MOExtended" mark
If a tire has gone flat and cannot be replaced with a MOExtended tire, a standard tire may
be used as a temporary measure. Make sure
that you use the proper size and type (sum-
mer or winter tire).
iVehicles equipped with MOExtended tires
are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the fac-
tory. It is therefore recommended that you
additionally equip your vehicle w

ith a TIREFIT
kit if you mount tires that do not feature run-
flat properties, e.g. winter tires. A TIREFIT kit
may be obtained from a qualified specialist
workshop.
340Flat tire
Breakdown assistance

the household rubbish. They
must be collected separatelyand recycled to protect the
environment.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or a special
collection point for used bat-
teries.
!Have the battery regularly checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
For more information, please contact a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
!Always have work on batteries carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop.
Should it, in exceptional circumstances, be
absolutely necessary to disconnect the 12-
volt battery yourself, please observe the fol-
lowing:
RSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
RSwitch off the ignition.
RDisconnect the negative terminal first and
then the positive terminal.
The transmission is locked in position j
after disconnecting the battery.
After the work has been done, install the bat-
tery and replace the cover of the positive ter-
minal clamp firmly.
Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking are
prohibited when handling the bat-
tery. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid contact
with skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective clothing,
especially gloves, apron and face-
guard. Rinse any acid spills immediately
with clear water. Contact a physician
if necessary.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Operator's Manual.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which have
been tested and approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz. These batteries provide
increased impact protection to prevent vehicle
occupants from suffering acid burns should the
battery be damaged in the event of an accident.
In order for the battery to achieve the maximum
possible service life, it must always be suffi-
ciently charged.
Like other batteries, the vehicle battery may
discharge over time if you do not use the vehicle.
In this case, have the battery disconnected at a
qualified specialist workshop. However, you can also charge the battery with a charger recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop for further information.
Have the battery condition of charge checked
more frequently if you use the vehicle mainly for
short trips or if you leave it standing idle for a
lengthy period. Consult a qualified specialist
workshop if you wish to leave your vehicle
parked for a long period of time.
Remove the SmartKey if you park the vehicle
and do not require any electrica l co
nsumers.
The vehicle will then use very little energy, thus conserving battery power.
If the power supply has been interrupted, e.g. if
you reconnect the battery, you will have to:
Rset the clock; see the Digital Operator's Man-
ual
On vehicles with a multimedia system and
navigation system, the clock is set automati-
cally.
Rreset the function for folding the exterior mir-
rors in/out automatically, by folding the mir-
rors out once (
Ypage 111)
Battery (vehicle)345
Breakdown assistance
Z

Make sure that:
RThe jumper cables are not damaged.
RBare parts of the terminal clamp do not come into contact with other metal parts while the jumpercables are connected to the battery.
RThe jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
XSecure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to position j.
XMake sure that the ignition is switched off. All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster must be
off. When using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position uin the ignition lock and remove it
(
Ypage 140).
XSwitch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window defroster, lighting, etc.
XOpen the hood.
iRight-hand-drive vehicle: the jump-starting connection points may be located on the other
side of the vehicle.
Position number Bidentifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-starting
device.
XSlide cover :of positive terminal ;in the direction of the arrow.
XConnect positive terminal ;on your vehicle to positive terminal =of donor battery Busing the
jumper cable, always begin with positive terminal ;on your own vehicle first.
XStart the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
XConnect negative terminal ?of donor battery Bto ground point Aof your vehicle using the
jumper cable, beginning with donor battery Bfirst.
XStart the engine.
XBefore disconnecting the jumper cables, let the engine run for several minutes.
XFirst, remove the jumper cables from ground point Aand negative terminal ?, then from pos-
itive terminal ;and positive terminal =. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle
first.
XClose cover :of positive terminal ;after removing the jumper cables.
XHave the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
348Jump-starting
Breakdown assistance