2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV climate control

Problems with the "Cooling with air dehumidification" function
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The indicator lamp in the
¿orÁ button
flashes three times or
remains off. The "Cool-
ing with air dehumidifi-
cation" function cannot
be switched on.Cooling with air dehumidification has been deactivated due to a mal-
function.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.
Setting climate control to automatic
General notes
In automatic mode, the set temperature is main-
tained automatically at a constant level. The
system automatically regulates the temperature
of the dispensed air, the airflow and the air dis-
tribution.
The "Cooling with air dehumidification" function
is activated automatically in automatic mode.
In the rear compartment, you can also switch
climate control for the rear seats to automatic
mode using the Ãbutton.
Automatic control
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 140).
XSet the desired temperature.
XTo activate: press theÃbutton.
The indicator lamp in the Ãbutton lights
up. Automatic air distribution and airflow are
activated.
XTo switch to manual mode: press the_
button.
3-zone automatic climate control: when auto-
matic mode is activated, you can select a cli-
mate mode (
Ypage 132).
Adjusting the climate mode settings
You can select the following climate mode set-
tings in automatic mode:
FOCUS high airflow, slightly cooler setting
MEDIUM medium airflow, standard setting
DIFFUSE low airflow, slightly warmer and draft- free setting
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 140).
XPress the Ãbutton.
XPress the ñbutton repeatedly until the
desired climate mode appears in the display.
Setting the temperature
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Different temperatures can be set for the driv-
er's and front-passenger sides.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 140).
XTo increase or decrease: turn control:or
B counter-clockwise or clockwise
(
Ypage 125).
Only change the temperature setting in small
increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †).
3-zone automatic climate control
You can select different temperature settings
for the driver's and front-passenger sides as well
as for the rear compartment.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 140).
XTo increase or decrease temperature in
the front compartment: turn control:or
B counter-clockwise or clockwise
(
Ypage 127).
Only change the temperature setting in small
increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †).
XTo increase or reduce the temperature in
the rear compartment using the front con- trol panel: press theábutton.
The indicator lamp in the ábutton goes
out.
132Operating the climate control systems
Climate control

The temperature setting for the driver's side
is adopted for the rear compartment and the
front-passenger side.
XTurn thumbwheel:to the left or right
(Ypage 127).
Only change the temperature setting in small
increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †).
XTo increase or decrease the rear compart- ment temperature using the rear control
panel: turn control Mcounter-clockwise or
clockwise on the rear control panel
(
Ypage 127).
Only change the temperature setting in small
increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †).
Setting the air distribution
Air distribution settings
Front control panel
P Directs the airflow through the center
vents
O Directs air through the footwell air vents
S Directs the airflow through the center
and footwell vents
¯ Directs air through the defroster vents
b Directs the airflow through the defroster
and center vents (Canada only)
a Directs air through the defroster and
footwell vents
_ Directs the airflow through the defroster,
center and footwell air vents (Canada
only)
Rear control panel
M Directs the airflow through the rear cen-
ter and B-pillar air vents
O Directs air through the footwell air vents
iUsing the rear control panel, you can also
activate both air distribution positions simul-
taneously. In order to do this, press both air
distribution buttons. The air is then routed
through all rear air vents.
iRegardless of the air distribution setting,
airflow is always directed through the side air
vents. The side air vents can only be closed
when the controls on the side air vents are
turned downwards.
Setting
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 140).
XPress the _button repeatedly until the
desired symbol appears in the display.
Setting the airflow
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 140).
XTo increase: press theKbutton.
XTo reduce: press theIbutton.
iYou can use 3-zone automatic climate con-
trol to set the airflow in the rear compartment
separately.
Switching the ZONE function on/off
XTo activate: press theábutton.
The indicator lamp above the ábutton
lights up.
Dual-zone automatic climate control: the tem-
perature setting for the driver's side is not
adopted for the front-passenger side.
3-zone automatic climate control: the tem-
perature setting for the driver's side is not
adopted for the front-passenger side and the rear compartment.
XTo deactivate: press theábutton.
The indicator lamp above the ábutton
goes out.
Dual-zone automatic climate control: the tem-
perature setting for the driver's side is adop-
ted for the front-passenger side.
3-zone automatic climate control: the tem-
perature setting for the driver's side is adop-
ted for the front-passenger side and the rear
compartment.
Defrosting the windshield
General notes
You can use this function to defrost the wind-
shield or to clear a fogged up windshield or front
side windows on the inside.
Switch off the "Windshield defrosting" function
as soon as the windshield is clear again.
Operating the climate control systems133
Climate control

Activating/deactivating
XTurn theSmartKey to position 2in th eigni-
tion loc k (Ypage 140).
XTo activate: press the¬ button.
The indicator lamp in th e¬ buttonlights
up.
The climat econtrol system switches to th e
followin gsettings:
Rhigh airflow
Rhigh temperature
Rair distribution to th ewindshield and fron t
side windows
Rair-recirculation mod eoff
XTo deactivate: press the¬ button.
The indicator lamp in th e¬ buttongoe s
out .The previously selected setting sare
restored .Air-recirculation mod eremain s
deactivated.
MAX COOL maximum cooling
The MA XCOOL function is only available in vehi-
cle sfor th eUSA.
MA XCOOL is only operational when th eengin e
is running.
XTo activate: press theÙ button.
The indicator lamp in th eÙ buttonlights
up.
XTo deactivate: press theÙ button.
The indicator lamp in th eÙ buttongoe s
out .The previously selected setting sare
restored .
When you activat eMA XCOOL ,climat econtrol
switches to th efollowin gfunctions:
Rmaximum coolin g
Rmaximum airflow
Rair-recirculation mod eon
Defrosting the windows
Windows fogged up onthe inside
XActivat eth e¿ orÁ coolin gwit hair
dehumidification function .
XActivateautomatic mod eÃ.
XIf th ewindows continu eto fog up, activat eth e
"windshield defrosting "function
(
Ypage 133).
iYou should only select this setting until th e
windshield is clear again .
Windows fogged uponthe outside
XActivat eth ewindshield wipers.
XPress th e_ buttonrepeatedly until th e
P orO symbol appear sin th edisplay.
iYou should only select this setting until th e
windshield is clear again .
iIf you clean thewindows regularly, they do
no tfog up so quickly.
Rear window defros ter
Genera l notes
The rear window defroste rhas ahigh curren t
draw .You should therefor eswitch it off as soo n
as th erear window is clear. Otherwise ,th erear
window defroste rswitches off automatically
after several minutes.
If th ebattery voltag eis to olow, th erear window
defroste rmay switch off .
Activating/deactivating
XTurn theSmartKey to position 2in th eigni-
tion loc k (Ypage 140).
XPress th e¤ button.
The indicator lamp in th e¤ buttonlights
up or goe sout .
134Operating the climate control systems
Climate control

Problems with the rear window defroster
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The rear window
defroster has deactiva-
ted prematurely or can-
not be activated.The battery has not been sufficiently charged.
XSwitch off any consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting or the seat heating.
When the battery is sufficiently charged, the rear window defroster
can be activated again.
Switching air-recirculation mode
on/off
General notes
You can deactivate the flow of fresh air if
unpleasant odors are entering the vehicle from
outside. The air already inside the vehicle will
then be recirculated.
If you switch on air-recirculation mode, the win-
dows can fog up more quickly, in particular at
low temperatures. Only use air-recirculation
mode briefly to prevent the windows from fog-
ging up.
Activating/deactivating
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 140).
XTo activate: press thedbutton.
The indicator lamp in the dbutton lights
up.
iIn the event of high pollution levels (3-zone
automatic climate control only) or at high out-
side temperatures, air-recirculation mode is
automatically activated. When air-recircula-
tion mode is activated automatically, the indi-
cator lamp in the dbutton is not lit.
Outside air is added after about 30 minutes.
XTo deactivate: press thedbutton.
The indicator lamp in the dbutton goes
out.
iAir-recirculation mode deactivates auto-
matically:
Rafter approximately five minutes at outside
temperatures below approximately 41 ‡
(5 †)
Rafter approximately five minutes if cooling
with air dehumidification is deactivated
Rafter approximately 30 minutes at outside
temperatures above approximately 41 ‡ (5 †) if the "Cooling with air dehumidifi-
cation" function is activated
Switching the residual heat on or off
General notes
The residual heat function is only available on
vehicles for Canada.
It is possible to make use of the residual heat of
the engine to continue heating the stationary
vehicle for up to 30 minutes after the engine has
been switched off. The heating time depends on
the set interior temperature.
Activating/deactivating
XTo activate: press theÌorÁ button.
The indicator lamp in the ÌorÁ button
lights up.
iThe blower will run at a low speed regardless
of the airflow setting.
iIf you activate the residual heat function at
high temperatures, only the ventilation will be
activated. The blower runs at medium speed.
XTo deactivate: press theÌorÁ but-
ton.
The indicator lamp in the ÌorÁ button
goes out.
Residual heat is deactivated automatically:
Rafter approximately 30 minutes
Rwhen the ignition is switched on
Rif the battery voltage drops
Ionization
Ionization is used to purify the air in the vehicle
interior and attain an improved interior climate.
Operating the climate control systems135
Climate control

The ionization of the interior air is odorless and
cannot be perceived directly in the vehicle inte-
rior.
You can switch ionization on and off via the mul-
timedia system (see the Digital Operator's Man-
ual).
Ionization can only be operated when the auto-
matic climate control is switched on. The side air
vent on the driver's side must be open.
Setting the air vents
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air
vents. This could result in burns or frostbite in
the immediate vicinity of the air vents. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that all vehicle occupants always
maintain a sufficient distance to the air out-
lets. If necessary, redirect the airflow to
another area of the vehicle interior.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes:
Rkeep the air inlet grille on the hood and in the
engine compartment on the front-passenger
side free of blockages, such as ice, snow or
leaves.
Rnever cover the air vents or air intake grilles in
the vehicle interior.
iFor virtually draft-free ventilation, adjust the
sliders of the air vents to the center position.
Setting the center air vents
:Center air vent, left
;Center air vent, right
=Center vent thumbwheel, right
?Center vent thumbwheel, left
XTo open or close: turn thumbwheels=
and ?to the left or right.
Setting the side air vents
Example
:
Side window defroster vent
;Side air vent, left
=Thumbwheel for side air vent
XTo open or close: turn thumbwheel=up or
down.
Setting the glove box air vent
!
Close the air vent when heating the vehicle.
At high outside temperatures, open the air
vent and activate the "cooling with air dehu-
midification" function. Otherwise, tempera-
ture-sensitive items stored in the glove box
could be damaged.
136Setting the air vents
Climate control

:Air vent control
;Air vent
When the climate control system is activated,
the glove box can be ventilated, for instance to
cool its contents. The level of airflow depends on the airflow and air distribution settings.
XTo open or close: turn thumbwheel:to the
right or left.
Setting the rear-compartment air
vents
Setting the center vents in the rear com-
partment
Example: center vents with rear control panel
:
Rear-compartment air vent thumbwheel
;Rear-compartment air vent, right
=Rear control panel
?Rear-compartment air vent, left
XTo open or close: turn thumbwheel:up or
down.
Setting the B-pillar air vent
Second row of seats
:B-pillar air vent
;Thumbwheel for B-pillar air vent
XTo open or close: turn thumbwheel;to the
left or right.
B-pillar air vent in the headliner
:
B-pillar air vent
;Thumbwheel for B-pillar air vent
XTo open or close: turn thumbwheel;up or
down.
Setting the air vents137
Climate control
Z

Third row of seats
B-pillar air vent in the headliner
:
B-pillar air vent
;Thumbwheel for B-pillar air vent
XTo open or close:turn thumbwheel;up or
down.
138Setting the air vents
Climate control

ignite if in contact with the exhaust system or
parts of the engine that heat up. There is a risk
of fire.
Carry out regular checks to make sure that
there are no flammable foreign materials in
the engine compartment or in the exhaust
system.
General notes
Vehicles with a gasoline engine:the catalytic
converter is preheated for up to 30 seconds
after a cold start. The sound of the engine may
change during this time.
Automatic transmission
XShift the transmission to position j
(Ypage 148).
The transmission position indicator on the
multifunction display shows j
(
Ypage 149).
iYou can start the engine in transmission
position jand i.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey
XTo start a diesel engine: turn the SmartKey
to position 2in the ignition lock
(
Ypage 140).
The % preglow indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 3in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 140) and release it as soon
as the engine is running.
iVehicles with a diesel engine: you can
start the engine without preglow if the engine
is warm.
Using KEYLESS-GO to start the engine
The Start/Stop button can be used to start the
vehicle without inserting the SmartKey into the
ignition lock. The Start/Stop button must be
inserted in the ignition lock and the SmartKey
must be in the vehicle. This mode for starting the
engine operates independently of the ECO
start/stop automatic engine start function.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
XPress the Start/Stop button once
(Ypage 140).
Vehicles with a gasoline engine: the engine
starts.
Vehicles with a diesel engine: preglow is
activated and the engine starts.
Starting procedure via smartphone
Observe the important safety notes on starting
the engine (Ypage 141).
You can also start your engine via your smart-
phone from outside the vehicle. In this case, the
previously selected climate control setting is
activated. In this way you can cool or heat the
interior of the vehicle before starting the jour-
ney.
Only start the engine via your smartphone if it is
safe to start and run the engine where your vehi-
cle is parked.
Observe the legal stipulations in the area where your vehicle is parked. Engine start via smart-
phone may be limited to certain countries or
regions.
You can execute a maximum of two consecutive
starting attempts via your smartphone. If you
insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock, you
can carry out two more starting attempts.
Once you have started the engine, you can
switch the engine off via your smartphone at any
time.
You can only start the engine via your smart-
phone if:
Rthe SmartKey is in the ignition lock
Rpark position jis selected
Rthe accelerator pedal is not depressed
Rthe anti-theft alarm system is not activated
Rthe panic alarm is not activated
Rthe hazard warning lamps are switched off
Rthe hood is closed
Rthe doors are closed and locked
Rthe windows and sliding sunroof are closed
Also make sure that:
Rthe fuel tank is sufficiently filled
Rthe starter battery is sufficiently charged
142Driving
Driving and parking