2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV suspension

Vehicles with a trailer coupled:below a speed
of 19 mph (30 km/h), you can choose between
the normal and raised vehicle level.
Setting the raised vehicle level
XStart the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is not lit:
XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes while the vehicle is
being raised, and lights up continuously as
soon as the vehicle reaches the desired level.
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles): the vehicle is raised by 2.4 in (60 mm)
compared to the normal level.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the vehicle is
raised by 2 in (50 mm) compared to the nor-
mal level.
The Vehicle Rising
message appears in the
multifunction display.
The message remains until the raised level is
reached.
If you press the %ora button on the
multifunction steering wheel, the message will
disappear.
The raised vehicle level setting is canceled in the
following cases:
RAll vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles): you are driving faster than 37 mph
(60 km/h).
RMercedes-AMG vehicles: you are driving
faster than 43 mph (70 km/h).
RMercedes-AMG vehicles: You drive for
approximately 20 seconds between 40 mph
(64 km/h) and 43 mph (70 km/h).
RYou drive with a trailer at speeds greater than
19 mph (30 km/h).
The raised vehicle level remains saved when you
are not driving within these speed ranges.
Setting the normal vehicle level
!Make sure that there is enough ground
clearance when the vehicle is being lowered.
It could otherwise hit the ground, damaging
the underbody.
XStart the engine.
If indicator lamp ;is lit:
XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes while the vehicle is
being lowered, and goes out as soon as the
desired vehicle level is reached.
Vehicles with no trailer coupled: the vehi-
cle is adjusted to the height of the selected
drive program (
Ypage 147).
Vehicles with a trailer coupled: the ve
hicle
is adjusted to normal level regardless of the
drive program selected (
Ypage 147). The
vehicle remains at the normal level, even if the
drive program is changed.
During the adjustment, the Lowering
mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
If you press the %ora button on the
multifunction steering wheel, the message will
disappear.
AMG adaptive sport suspension sys-
tem
General notes
The electronically controlled damping system
works continuously. This improves driving
safety and ride comfort.
The damping is tuned individually to each wheel
and depends on:
Ryour driving style, e.g. sporty
Rthe road surface condition, e.g. bumps
Ryour individual selection of Sport, Sport+ or
Comfort
The suspension setting can be adjusted using
button :in the center console or the DYNAMIC
SELECT controller (
Ypage 147).
Each time you start the engine with the Smart-
Key or the Start/Stop button, Comfort mode is
activated. For further information about starting
the engine, see (
Ypage 141).
Driving systems191
Driving and parking
Z

Sport mode
The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in
Sport mode ensures even better contact with
the road. Select this mode when employing a
sporty driving style, e.g. on winding country
roads.
XPress button:repeatedly until indicator
lamp =lights up.
You have selected Sport mode.
The AMG Suspension System SPORT
mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
Sport + mode
The very firm setting of the suspension setting in
Sport + mode ensures the best possible contact
with the road. Select this mode only when driv-
ing on race circuits.
If indicator lamps ;and =are off:
XPress button :repeatedly until indicator
lamp ;lights up.
You have selected Sport + mode.
The AMG
SuspensionSystemSPORT +mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
In "Sport +" mode, the vehicle is lowered by
10 mm compared to the normal level.
Comfort mode
In Comfort mode, the driving characteristics of
your vehicle are more comfortable. Select this
mode if you favor a more comfortable driving
style, but also when driving fast on straight
roads, e.g. highways.
XPress button :repeatedly until indicator
lamps ;and =go out.
You have selected Comfort mode.
The AMG
SuspensionSystemCOMFORTmes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is an electronic
parking aid with ultrasound. It monitors the area
around your vehicle using six sensors in the
front bumper and six sensors in the rear
bumper. Parking Assist PARKTRONIC visually
and audibly indicates the distance between your
vehicle and an object.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is
not a replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering, parking and
exiting a parking space. When maneuvering,
parking or pulling out of a parking space, make
sure that there are no persons, animals or
objects in the area in which you are maneuver-
ing.
!When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such as
flower pots or trailer drawbars. PARKTRONIC
does not detect such objects when they are in
the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. You
could damage the vehicle or the objects.
The sensors may not detect snow and other
objects that absorb ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic car
wash, the compressed-air brakes on a truck
or a pneumatic drill could cause PARKTRONIC
to malfunction.
PARKTRONIC may not function correctly on
uneven terrain.
!Fold in the ball coupling if the trailer tow
hitch is not required. PARKTRONIC measures
the minimum detection range to an obstacle
from the bumper, not the ball coupling.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is deactivated for
the rear area when you establish an electrical
connection between your vehicle and a trailer.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is activated auto-
matically when you:
Rswitch on the ignition
Rshift the transmission to position D,Ror N
Rrelease the electric parking brake
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is deactivated at
speeds above 11 mph (18 km/h). It is reactiva-
ted at lower speeds.
192Driving systems
Driving and parking

If the multifunction display shows oil temper-
ature?orB in blue, the engine or the
transmission are not yet at normal operating
temperature. Avoid driving at full engine out-
put during this time.
SETUP
:Engine mode (Comfort/ Sport/Sport +)
;Suspension setting Comfort/Sport/
Sport +
=Transmission position D/M
?ESP®mode (ON/OFF)
SETUP displays the following information/func- tions:
Rthe digital speedometer
Rthe gear indicator
Rthe engine mode
Rthe suspension mode
Rthe transmission position
Rthe ESP®(Electronic Stability Program) mode
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the AMGmenu.
XPress the9button repeatedly until SETUP
is displayed.
RACE TIMER
Displaying and starting RACETIMER
The RACETIMER is only intended for use on a
closed race circuit. Do not use the function on
public roads.
:Lap
;RACETIMER You can start the RACETIMER when the engine is
running or if the SmartKey is in position
2in the
ignition lock.
XPress the =or; button on the steering
wheel to select the AMGmenu.
XPress the9button repeatedly until the
RACETIMER is shown.
XTo start: press the abutton to start the
RACETIMER.
Displaying the intermediate time
XPress the =or; button to select
Interm. Time.
XPress ato confirm.
The intermediate time is displayed for five
seconds.
Starting a new lap
:RACETIMER
;Fastest lap time (best lap)
=Lap
XPress ato confirm New Lap.
iIt is possible to store a maximum of sixteen
laps. The 16th lap can only be completed with
Finish Lap
.
Stopping the RACETIMER
246Menus and submenus
On-board computer and displays

Important safety notes
GWARNING
If wheels and tires of th ewrong siz eare used,
th ewhee lbrakes or suspension component s
may be damaged. Ther eis aris kof an acci-
dent.
Always replace wheels and tires wit hthose
that fulfill th especification sof th eoriginal
part .
When replacing wheels, mak esur eto use th e
correct:
Rdesignation
Rmodel
When replacing tires ,mak esur eto use th e
correct:
Rdesignation
Rmanufacturer
Rmodel
GWARNIN G
A flat tire severely impairs th edriving ,steer -
ing and braking characteristics of th evehicle.
Ther eis aris kof accident.
Tires without run-flat characteristics :
Rdo notdriv ewit h a flat tire.
Rimmediately replace th eflat tire wit hyour
emergenc yspar ewhee lor spar ewheel, or
consult aqualified specialist workshop.
Tires wit hrun-flat characteristics :
Rpay attention to theinformation and warn -
ing notice son MOExtended tires (tire swit h
run-flat characteristics).
Accessories that are no tapprove dfor your vehi-
cle by Mercedes-Ben zor are no tbein gused cor-
rectl ycan impair th eoperating safety.
Before purchasing and usin gnon-approve d
accessories, visit aqualified specialist work-
sho pand inquire about :
Rsuitability
Rlegal stipulation s
Rfactory recommendation sFurther information regarding wheels and tires
can be foun
dunder "Wheel/tire combinations"
(
Ypage 379).
You can ask for information regarding permitte d
wheel-tire combination sat an authorize d
Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
Tir epressur einformation can be found:
Ron th eTir eand Loading Information placard
on th eB-pillar on th edriver' sside
Rin th etire pressur etable in th efuel filler flap
Rin th e"Tir epressure" section
Operation
Information on driving
Chec kth etire pressur ewhen th evehicl eis
heavily laden and adjust prio rto atrip.
While driving ,pay attention to vibrations, noises
and unusual handlin gcharacteristics ,e.g. pull-
ing to on eside .This may indicat ethat th e
wheels or tires are damaged. If you suspec tthat
a tire is defective, reduce your spee dimmedi-
ately. Stop th evehicl eas soo nas possible to
chec kth ewheels and tires for damage. Hidden
tire damag ecould also be causing th eunusual
handlin gcharacteristics .If you fin dno sign sof
damage, hav eth etires and wheels checke dat a
qualified specialist workshop.
When parking your vehicle, mak esur ethat th e
tires do no tget deformed by th ecur bor other
obstacles. If it is necessar yto driv eove rcurbs,
spee dhump sor similar elevations, tr yto do so
slowly and at an obtuse angle. Otherwise, th e
tires ,particularly th esidewalls, may be dam-
aged.
Regular checking of wheels and tires
GWARNIN G
Damaged tires can caus etire inflation pres-
sur eloss .As aresult ,you could lose control of
your vehicle. Ther eis aris kof accident.
Chec kth etires regularly for sign sof damag e
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Chec kwheels and tires for damag eat least once
a month .Chec kwheels and tires after driving
off-road or on roug hroads. Damaged wheels
can caus e aloss of tire pressure.
354Operation
Wheels and tires

To avoid hazardous situations:
Rnever install snow chains to the front
wheels
Ralways install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels.
!Check the snow chains for damage before
mounting them. Damaged or worn snow
chains may snap and damage the following
components:
Rwheel
Rwheel housing
Rwheel suspension
For this reason, you must use only snow
chains that are free of defects. Observe the
manufacturer's mounting instructions.
!You must drive at raised vehicle level (height
1) if snow chains have been installed. The
vehicle may otherwise be damaged.
!Vehicles with ADS (Adaptive Damping
System): do not use the sport mode when
driving with snow chains mounted. The vehi-
cle may otherwise be damaged.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that have
been specially approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz, or are of a corresponding
standard of quality. For more information,
please contact a qualified specialist workshop.
Install the snow chains on all driven wheels for
maximum tractive power and driving stability. If
you own snow chains for two driven wheels only,
install the snow chains to the wheels on the rear
axle. The vehicle then remains more stable
under braking.
If you intend to mount snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
RSnow chains may not be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. Permissible
wheel/tire combinations (
Ypage 379).
ROnly use snow chains when driving on roads
completely covered by snow. Remove the
snow chains as soon as possible when you
come to a road that is not snow-covered.
RLocal regulations may restrict the use of snow
chains. Observe the appropriate regulations if
you wish to mount snow chains.
RDo not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
RNever use Parking Pilot when snow chains are
installed (Ypage 195).
You may wish to deactivate ESP®(Ypage 71)
when pulling away with snow chains mounted.
You can thereby allow the wheels to spin in a
controlled manner, achieving an increased driv-
ing force (cutting action).
Information about driving with an emergency
spare wheel (
Ypage 380).
Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
Rthe tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
Rthe tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
Rthe driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tires includ-
ing the spare wheel:
Rmonthly, at least
Rif the load changes
Rbefore beginning a long journey
Runder different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
Details on tire pressure can be found at the fol-
lowing positions in the vehicle:
RTire and Loading Information placard on the
B-pillar on the driver's side
Rtable for tire pressure on the inside of the fuel
filler flap
The tire pressure monitor does not warn you of:
Tire pressure357
Wheels and tires
Z

Sidewall
The part of the tire between the tread and the
bead.
Weight of optional extras
The combined weight of those optional extras
that weigh more than the replaced standard
parts and more than 2.3 kg (5 lbs). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
brakes, level control, a roof rack or a high-per-
formance battery, are not included in the curb
weight and the weight of the accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
This is a unique identifier which can be used by
a tire manufacturer to identify tires, for example
for a product recall, and thus identify the pur-
chasers. The TIN is made up of the manufactur-
er's identity code, tire size, tire type code and
the manufacturing date.
Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a code
that contains the maximum load bearing capa-
city of a tire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the tires
and the road surface.
TWR (Tongue Weight Rating)
The TWR specifies the maximum permissible
weight that the ball coupling of the trailer tow
hitch can support.
Treadwear indicators
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are distrib-
uted over the tire tread. If the tire tread is level
with the bars, the wear limit ofáin (1.6 mm)
has been reached.
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle at their
designated seating positions.
Total load limit
Nominal load and luggage load plus 68 kg
(150 lbs) multiplied by the number of seats in
the vehicle.
Changing a wheel
Flat tire
The "Breakdown assistance" section
(Ypage 339) contains information and notes on
how to deal with a flat tire. Information on driv-
ing with MOExtended tires in the event of a flat
tire can be found under "MOExtended tires (tires
with run-flat characteristics" (
Ypage 340).
Vehicles with an emergency spare wheel: in
the event of a flat tire, mount the emergency
spare wheel according to the description under "Mounting a wheel" (
Ypage 375).
Rotating the wheels
GWARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions. The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of acci-
dent.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels and tires are of the same dimensions.
!On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are located
in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used near
the valve. This could damage the electronic
components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(
Ypage 375).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern
has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires in
the center.
On vehicles that have the same size front and
rear wheels, you can rotate the wheels accord-
ing to the intervals in the tire manufacturer's
warranty book in your vehicle documents. If no
warranty book is available, the tires should be
rotated every 3,000 to 6,000 miles (5,000 to
10,000 km). Depending on tire wear, this may
374Changing a wheel
Wheels and tires

R-134arefrigerant. Otherwise, th eclimat e
control system may be damaged.
Service work, suc has refillin gwit hrefrigeran tor
replacing component parts, may only be carrie d
out by aqualified specialist workshop. All appli-
cable regulations, as well as SA Estandard J639,
mus tbe adhered to .
Always hav ewor kon th eclimat econtrol system
carrie dout at aqualified specialist workshop.
Refrigerant instruction label
Example: refrigeran tinstruction label
:
Warning symbol
;Refrigerant filling capacit y
=Applicable standards
?PAGoil part number
AType of refrigeran t
Warning symbol :advises you about :
RPossibledanger s
RHaving servic ewor kcarrie dout at aqualified
specialist workshop
Filling capacities
RefrigerantCapacit y
All models45.9±0. 4oz
(1300 ±10 g)
PAG oilCapacity
All models3.9 ± 0.4 oz
(110 ± 10 g)
Vehicle data
General notes
Please note that for the specified vehicle data:
Rthe heights specified may vary as a result of:
-tires
-load
-condition of the suspension
-optional equipment
Roptional equipment reduces the maximum
payload.
Observe the information relating to level con-
trol:
RAIRMATIC package (Ypage 190)
ROffroad Engineering package (Ypage 220)
Dimensions and weights
Missing values were not available at time of
going to print.
Model:
Opening height
;
Max.
headroom
Mercedes-
AMG vehicles
392Vehicle data
Technical data

Fordingdepth
Vehicles without the Off-
road Engineering package
Raised level19.7 in
(50 cm)
Vehicles with the Off-Road
Engineering package
Off-road level 119.7 in
(50 cm)
Off-road level 219.7 in
(50 cm)
Off-road level 323.6 in
(60 cm)
Mercedes-AMG vehicles
For more information about off-road fording, see
(Ypage 169).
Approach/departure angle
All vehicles (except vehicles with AMG body-
styling)
:;
Vehicles without the Off-
road Engineering package
Normal level25°20°
Raised level30°25°
Vehicles with the Off-
Road Engineering pack-
age
:;
Normal level25°20°
Off-road level 128°23°
Off-road level 230°25°
Off-road level 333°27°
Mercedes-AMG vehicles
Normal level (in sport mode
with AMG adaptive sport
suspension system activa-
ted)19°19°
Raised level22°21°
Vehicles with AMG bodystyling
:;
Vehicles without the Off-
road Engineering package
Normal level22°20°
Raised level27°25°
Vehicles with the Off-
Road Engineering pack-
age
Normal level22°20°
Off-road level 125°23°
Off-road level 227°25°
Off-road level 329°27°
For further information about approach/depar-
ture angles, see (Ypage 173).
Maximum gradient-climbing capabil-
ity
Note that the vehicle's gradient-climbing capa-
bility depends on the off-road conditions and the road surface conditions.
Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package:
the maximum gradient climbing ability is 100 %
when the LOW RANGE off-road gear is selected.
Vehicles without the ON&OFFROAD pack-
age: the maximum gradient climbing ability is
80 %.
394Vehicle data for off-road driving
Technical data