2019 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV brake

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.
X Fold the windshield wiper arms away from the
windshield (Y page 123).
X Carefully clean the wiper blades with a damp
cloth.
X Fold 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.
X Clean 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.
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.
X Clean 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 insert of the side
running board with alkaline or acid-based
cleaning agents, such as wheel cleaner. Do
not use acidic wheel cleaners to remove brake dust. The aluminum inserts could oth-
erwise 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. X
Clean sensors 0043of 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. 330
CareMaintenance and care

G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures below freezing point. When jump-starting the
vehicle or charging the battery, gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before charging it or jump-starting.
! Vehicles with a gasoline engine:
avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Otherwise, the
catalytic converter could be damaged by non-combusted fuel.
If the indicator/warning lamps do not light up at low temperatures, it is very likely that the dis-
charged battery has frozen. In this case you may neither jump-start the vehicle nor charge the
battery. The service life of a thawed-out battery may be shorter. The starting characteristics can be
impaired, particularly at low temperatures. Have the thawed-out battery checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Do not start the vehicle using a rapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the
engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a donor battery using jumper cables.
Observe the following points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible, jump-
start the vehicle using a donor battery or a jump-starting device.
R Vehicles with a gasoline engine: only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust
system are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Only jump-start from batteries with a 12 V voltage rating.
R Only use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected for
a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the battery slightly.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that:
R The jumper cables are not damaged.
R Bare parts of the terminal clamp do not come into contact with other metal parts while the jumper
cables are connected to the battery.
R The jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts that can move when the engine is running,
such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
X Secure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake.
X Shift the transmission to position 005D.
X Make 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 0092in the ignition lock and remove it
(Y page 140).
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window defroster, lighting, etc.
X Open the hood.
i Right-hand-drive vehicle:
the jump-starting connection points may be located on the other
side of the vehicle. 344
Jump-startingBreakdown assistance

Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
R there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per- missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weight
of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate (Y page 383).
! When Active Brake Assist, Active Distance
Assist DISTRONIC or the HOLD function is
activated, the vehicle brakes automatically in
certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
these systems in the following or similar sit-
uations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
! Make sure that the electric parking brake is
released. If the electric parking brake is faulty,
visit a qualified specialist workshop. !
Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes, or the trailer tow hitch, if availa-
ble. You could otherwise damage the vehicle.
! Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
R Secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R Make sure that the tow rope is not longer
than legally permitted. Mark the tow rope in
the middle, e.g. with a white cloth
(11.8 x 11.8 in). This will make other road
users aware that a vehicle is being towed.
R Only secure the tow cable to the towing
eyes or, if available, to the trailer tow hitch.
R Observe the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a dis-
tance a distance so that the tow rope does not sag.
R Do not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. You could otherwise damage
the vehicle.
! Do not use the trailer tow hitch for recovery
or towing. Do not use the towing eye for
recovery. this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, have the vehicle recovered using a
crane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. Pull the towed vehicle as straight as possible and not at an acute angle. Excessive
tractive power could damage the vehicles.
When towing, it is preferable to use a rigid tow-
ing bar as opposed to a tow rope. A rigid towing bar helps to keep the tractive power low.
! When towing away vehicles with KEYLESS-
GO, use the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. The automatic transmission may oth-
erwise shift to position 005Dwhen you open the
driver's or front-passenger door, which could damage the transmission.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment. This
could damage the vehicle.
! Vehicles with differential locks: make sure
the differential locks are in automatic mode.
When towing, the differential locks must not
be switched on. The transmission may other- wise be damaged.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum dis-
tance of 30 miles (50 kilometers). A towing 346
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not be
exceeded.
For towing distances over 30 miles
(50 kilometers), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
It is better to have the vehicle transported than
to have it towed away.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission damage, have it transported on a transporter or trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in position
005C when the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the SmartKey to position 0048in
the ignition lock
R cannot release the electric parking brake
R cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position 005C
Disarm the automatic locking feature before the vehicle is towed (Y page 241). You could other-
wise be locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle. Permitted towing methods
Mercedes-Benz recommends transporting your
vehicle in the case of a breakdown, rather than
towing it away.
When towing away, use a towing rope or a tow-
ing bar with both axles on the ground. Do not use any tow bar systems. Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye The brackets for the screw-in towing eye are
located in the bumpers. They are at the front and
rear behind covers 00430044.
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle tool
kit (Y page 335).
X To open the cover at the front: press the
mark on cover 0043inwards in the direction of
the arrow.
X To open the cover at the rear: insert a flat,
blunt object into the cutout and lever
cover 0044out of the bumper.
X Take cover 0043or0044 off the opening.
X Screw in the towing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye X
Unscrew and remove the towing eye.
X Position cover 0043or0044 in the bumper and
press the cover on until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit. Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
The automatic transmission shifts to position
005D automatically when you open the driver's or
front-passenger door or when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Towing and tow-starting
347Breakdown assistance Z

In order to ensure that the automatic transmis-
sion stays in position 005Cwhen towing away the
vehicle, you must observe the following points:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0048in the igni-
tion lock.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
005C.
X Leave the SmartKey in position 0048in the igni-
tion lock.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 117).
In order to signal a change of direction when
towing the vehicle with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination switch as usual. In this case, only the indicator lamps
for the direction of travel flash. After resetting
the combination switch, the hazard warning
lamp starts flashing again. Transporting the vehicle
4MATIC vehicles/vehicles with auto-
matic transmission !
When the vehicle is loaded for transport, the
front and rear axles must be stationary and on
the same transportation vehicle. Positioning
over the connection point of the transport
vehicle is not permitted. The drive train may
otherwise be damaged. All vehicles !
You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporting pur-
poses.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0048in the igni-
tion lock.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
005C.
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded:
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
005D.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0092in the igni-
tion lock and remove it.
X Secure the vehicle.
Securing the vehicle !
After loading, the vehicle must be secured at
all four wheels. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
A minimum distance of 8 in (20 cm) up and
4 in (10 cm) down must be maintained to the transport platform.
X Secure all four wheels after loading the vehi-
cle.
Vehicles with ADS PLUS (Adaptive
Damping System PLUS) Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The weaker damping forces of the vehicle to
be transported can cause the vehicle/trailer
combination to swing.
As a result, when transporting vehicles with
Adaptive Damping System PLUS, the vehicle/ trailer combination may start to skid. Conse-
quently, you could lose control of the vehicle.
There is a risk of accident and injury. 348
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you install wheels and tires with incorrect
dimensions, the service brake or wheel sus-
pension components may be damaged. There is a risk of an accident.
Always replace wheels and tires with ones
that comply with the specifications of the
original part.
When replacing wheels, pay attention to the:
R Designation
R Model
When replacing tires, pay attention to the:
R Designation
R Manufacturer
R Model G
WARNING
A flat tire will severely affect the driving char- acteristics as well as the steering and braking
of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Tires without run-flat characteristics:
R Do not drive on with a flat tire.
R Change the flat tire immediately with an
emergency spare wheel or spare wheel.
Alternatively, consult a qualified specialist
workshop.
Tires with run-flat characteristics:
R Observe the information and warning notes
on MOExtended tires (run-flat tires).
Accessories that are not approved for your vehi-
cle by Mercedes-Benz or are not being used cor- rectly can impair the operating safety.
Before purchasing and using non-approved
accessories, visit a qualified specialist work-
shop and inquire about:
R suitability
R legal stipulations
R factory recommendations
Further information regarding wheels and tires
can be found under "Wheel/tire combinations"
(Y page 377). You can ask for information regarding permitted
wheel/tire combinations at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure information can be found:
R on the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the B-pillar on the driver's side
R in the tire pressure table in the fuel filler flap
R in the "Tire pressure" section Operation
Information on driving
Check the tire pressure when the vehicle is
heavily laden and adjust prior to a trip.
While driving, pay attention to vibrations, noises and unusual handling characteristics, e.g. pull-
ing to one side. This may indicate that the
wheels or tires are damaged. If you suspect that
a tire is defective, reduce your speed immedi-
ately. Stop the vehicle as soon as possible to
check the wheels and tires for damage. Hidden tire damage could also be causing the unusual
handling characteristics. If you find no signs of
damage, have the tires and wheels checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
When parking your vehicle, make sure that the
tires do not get deformed by the curb or other
obstacles. If it is necessary to drive over curbs,
speed humps or similar elevations, try to do so
slowly and at an obtuse angle. Otherwise, the
tires, particularly the sidewalls, may be dam-
aged. Regular checking of wheels and tires
G
WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Check wheels and tires for damage at least once a month. Check wheels and tires after driving
off-road or on rough roads. Damaged wheels
can cause a loss of tire pressure.
Pay particular attention to damage such as:
R cuts in the tires
R punctures in the tires 352
OperationWheels and ti
res

Restarting the tire pressure monitor
When you restart the tire pressure monitor, all
existing warning messages are deleted and the
warning lamps go out. The monitor uses the cur-
rently set tire pressures as the reference values
for monitoring. In most cases, the tire pressure
monitor will automatically detect the new refer- ence values after you have changed the tire
pressure. However, you can also set reference
values manually as described here. The tire
pressure monitor then monitors the new tire
pressure values.
X Set the tire pressure to the value recommen-
ded for the corresponding driving situation on the Tire and Loading Information placard on
the driver's side B-pillar (Y page 355).
You can find more tire pressure values for
various operating conditions in the tire pres-
sure table inside the fuel filler flap
(Y page 356).
X Make sure that the tire pressure is correct on
all four wheels.
X Make sure that the SmartKey is in position 0048
in the ignition lock.
X Press the 0059or0065 button on the steering
wheel to select the Serv.
Serv. menu.
X Press the 0063or0064 button to select
Tire Pressure Tire Pressure .
X Press 0076.
The multifunction display shows the current
tire pressure for the individual tires or the
Tire pressure will be displayed
Tire pressure will be displayed
after driving a few minutes
after driving a few minutes message.
X Press the 0064button.
The Use
Use Current
Current Pressures
Pressures as
asNew
New Ref‐
Ref‐
erence
erence Values
Valuesmessage appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
If you wish to confirm the restart:
X Press the 0076button.
The Tire
Tire Press.
Press. Monitor
Monitor Restarted
Restarted mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
After driving for a few minutes, the system
checks whether the current tire pressures are
within the specified range. The new tire pres- sures are then accepted as reference values
and monitored.
If you wish to cancel the restart: X Press the 0038button.
The tire pressure values stored at the last
restart will continue to be monitored. Radio type approval for the tire pres-
sure monitor Country Radio type approval number
USA FCC ID: MRXGG4
FCC ID: MRXMC34MA4
This device complies with Part 15
of the FCC Rules. Operation is
subject to the following two con- ditions: (1) This device may not
cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation. Canada IC: 2546A-GG4;
IC: 2546A- MC34MA4;
Le présent appareil est conforme
aux CNR d'Industrie Canada
applicables aux appareils radio
exempts de license. L'exploita-
tion est autorisée aux deux con-
ditions suivantes: (1) l'appareil
ne doit pas produire de brouil-
lage, et (2) l'utilisateur de l'ap-
pareil doit accepter tout brouil-
lage radioélectrique subi, même
si le brouillage est susceptible
d'en compromettre le fonc-
tionnement. Loading the vehicle
Instruction labels for tires and loads
G
WARNING
Overloaded tires can overheat, causing a
blowout. Overloaded tires can also impair the steering and driving characteristics and lead
to brake failure. There is a risk of accident.
Observe the load rating of the tires. The load
rating must be at least half of the GAWR of
your vehicle. Never overload the tires by
exceeding the maximum load.
Two instruction labels on your vehicle show the maximum possible load.
(1) The Tire and Loading Information placard is on the B-pillar on the driver's side. The Tire 362
Loading the vehicleWheels and tires

PSI (pounds per square inch)
A standard unit of measure for tire pressure.
Aspect ratio
Relationship between tire height and tire width
in percent.
Tire pressure
This is pressure inside the tire applying an out-
ward force to each square inch of the tire's sur-
face. The tire pressure is specified in pounds per
square inch (psi), in kilopascal (kPa) or in bar.
The tire pressure should only be corrected when
the tires are cold.
Cold tire pressure
The tires are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked with the tires
out of direct sunlight for at least three hours
and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further than
1 mile (1.6 km)
Tread
The part of the tire that comes into contact with
the road.
BeadThe tire bead ensures that the tire sits securely
on the wheel. There are several steel wires in the
bead to prevent the tire from coming loose from the wheel rim.
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 of 00CDin (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
(Y page 335) 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" (Y page 336).
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" (Y page 373). Rotating the wheels
G
WARNING
Rotating the front and rear wheels if the
wheels or tires have different dimensions may severely impair the driving characteristics.
The service brake or wheel suspension com- 372
Changing a wheelWheels and tires