2019 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV maintenance

Where possible, let the engine cool down and
touch only the components described in the
following. G
WARNING
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 protective gloves and protective
eyewear when opening. Open the cap slowly
to release pressure.
The coolant level may only be checked and cool- ant refilled when the engine and engine coolingsystem have cooled down. G
WARNING
Windshield washer concentrate is highly flam- mable. If windshield washer concentrate getsonto hot components of the engine or the
exhaust system, it can ignite. There is a risk of
fire and injury.
Make sure that windshield washer concen-
trate is not spilled in the vicinity of the filler
neck.
Checking coolant level X
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Only check the coolant level when the vehicle
is on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0048in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 140).
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 142).X
Check the coolant temperature gauge in the
multifunction display.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).
X Turn the SmartKey to position in the ignition
lock 0092(Ypage 140).
X On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button (Y page 142).
X Press the Start/Stop button (Y page 142).
X Slowly turn cap 0043half a turn counter-clock-
wise and allow excess pressure to escape.
X Turn cap 0043further counter-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar 0087
in the filler neck when cold, there is enough
coolant in coolant expansion tank 0044.
If the coolant level is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar 0087in the filler neck
when warm, there is enough coolant in expan- sion tank 0044.
X If necessary, add coolant that has been tested
and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Replace cap 0043and turn it clockwise as far as
it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(Y page 387).
Adding washer fluid to the windshield
washer system Example: washer fluid reservoir
X To open: pull cap0043upwards by the tab.
X Add the premixed washer fluid.
X To close: press cap 0043onto the filler neck
until it engages.
If the washer fluid level drops below the recom- mended minimum of 1 liter, a message appears in the multifunction display prompting you to
add washer fluid (Y page 273).324
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

Further information on windshield washer fluid
(Y page 388). ASSYST PLUS
Service message
i If the scheduled service intervals are excee-
ded, this may result in damage to the vehicle.
You can obtain up-to-date information concern-
ing the servicing of your vehicle from a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
i The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not show any information on the engine
oil level. Observe the notes on the engine oil
level (Y page 322).
The multifunction display shows a service mes-
sage for several seconds, e.g.:
R Service A in .. Days Service A in .. Days
R Service A Due
Service A Due
R Service A Exceeded by .. Days
Service A Exceeded by .. Days
Depending on the operating conditions of the
vehicle, the remaining time or distance until the next service due date is displayed.
The letter A
A or B B, possibly in connection with a
number or another letter, shows the type of ser-
vice. A
A stands for a minor service and B
Bfor a
major service.
Further information can be obtained at a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display does
not take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Maintaining the time-dependent service sched-
ule:
X Note down the service due date displayed in
the multifunction display before disconnect-
ing the battery.
or
X After reconnecting the battery, subtract the
battery disconnection periods from the ser-
vice date shown on the display. Hiding a service message
X Press the 0038or0076 button on the steering
wheel. Displaying service messages
X Switch on the ignition.
X Press the 0059or0065 button on the steering
wheel to select the Serv. Serv.menu.
X Press the 0063or0064 button to select the
ASSYST
ASSYST PLUS
PLUSsubmenu and confirm by press-
ing the 0076button.
The service due date appears in the multi-
function display. Information about Service
Resetting the ASSYST PLUS service
interval display !
If the ASSYST PLUS service interval display
has been inadvertently reset, this setting can
be corrected at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Have service work carried out as described in the Maintenance Booklet. This may otherwise
lead to increased wear and damage to the
major assemblies or the vehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop will reset the
ASSYST PLUS service interval display after the
service work has been carried out. You can also obtain further information on maintenance
work, for example.
Special service requirements The specified maintenance interval takes only
the normal operation of the vehicle into
account. Under increased load on the vehicle,
maintenance work must be carried out more
frequently, for example:
R Regular city driving with frequent intermedi-
ate stops
R If the vehicle is primarily used to travel short
distances
R Use in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces
R If the engine is often left idling for long periods
Under these or similar conditions, have, for
example, the air filter, engine oil and oil filter
replaced or changed more frequently. Under
arduous operating conditions, the tires must be checked more often. Further information can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop. ASSYST PLUS
325Maintenance and care Z

Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network is
also available in other countries. You can obtain further information from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Care
General notes
H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man- ner.
! When cleaning your car, do not use:
R dry, coarse or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces and films with hard
objects, e.g. rings or ice scrapers. Otherwise,
you may scratch or damage the surfaces and films.
! 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.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident. After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is restored.
! Before driving into an automatic car wash,
make sure that it is suitable for the dimen-
sions of the vehicle. In particular, make sure
that:
R there is enough ground clearance between
the vehicle underbody and the guide rails of the automatic car wash.
R the clearance width of the automatic car
wash is sufficient, particularly the width of
the guide rails.
R you enter the automatic car wash straight
and in the center of the guide rails in order
to avoid damaging the tires or wheel rims.
Fold in the exterior mirrors before the vehicle
is washed. The exterior mirrors could other-
wise be damaged.
! When Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC or
the HOLD function is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC and the
HOLD function in the following or similar sit-
uations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in 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:
R the side windows and the sliding sunroof
are fully closed.
R that the blower of the ventilation/heating
system is switched off (OFF button has
been pressed).
R the windshield wiper switch is at position
005A.
The vehicle may otherwise be damaged.
! In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission is
in transmission position 005C; otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
R Vehicles with a SmartKey:
Do not remove the SmartKey from the igni-
tion lock. Do not open the driver's door or 326
CareMaintenance and care

front-passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position
005Dauto-
matically and locks the wheels. You can
prevent this by shifting the automatic trans- mission to 005Cbeforehand.
R Vehicles 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 005Dauto-
matically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position 005C:
X Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
X Turn the SmartKey to position in the ignition
lock 0048(Ypage 140).
Use the SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop
button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
005C.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch 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 the 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.
X Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X Use a soft sponge to clean.
X Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a gen-
tle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards the
air inlets. X
Use plenty of water and rinse out the sponge
frequently.
X Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
X Do 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 G
WARNING
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.
! Always maintain a distance of at least 12 in
(30 cm) between the vehicle and the power
washer nozzle. Information about the correct
distance is available from the equipment
manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
R Tires
R Door gaps, roof gaps, joints, etc.
R Electrical components
R Battery
R Plug-type couplings
R Light bulbs
R Seals
R Trim elements
R Ventilation slots
Damaged seals or electrical components can
lead to leaks or failures.
! Vehicles with decorative film: parts of your
vehicle are covered with decorative film.
Maintain a distance of at least 27.5 in (70 cm)
between the film-covered parts of the vehicle and the nozzle of the power washer.
Information about the correct distance is
available from the equipment manufacturer. Care
327Maintenance and care Z

Move the power washer nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
The water temperature of the power washer
must not exceed 140 ‡ (60 †).
Cleaning the paintwork !
Do not affix:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected by
corrosion and damage caused by inadequate
care cannot always be completely repaired. In
such cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
X Remove dirt immediately, where possible,
while avoiding rubbing too hard.
X Soak insect remains with insect remover and
rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
X Soak bird droppings with water and rinse off
the treated areas afterwards.
X Remove tree resin, oils, fuels and greases by
rubbing gently with a cloth soaked in petro-
leum ether or lighter fluid
X Remove coolant and brake fluid with a moist
cloth and clear water.
X Use tar remover to remove tar stains.
X Use silicone remover to remove wax.
If water no longer forms "beads" on the paint
surface, use the paint care products recommen- ded and approved by Mercedes-Benz. This is the
case approximately every three to five months,
depending on the climate conditions and the
care product used.
If dirt has penetrated the paint surface or if the
paint has become dull, the paint cleaner recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz
should be used.
Do not use these care products in the sun or on the hood while the hood is hot.
X Use a suitable touch-up stick, e.g. MB Touch-
Up Stick, to repair slight damage to the paint- work quickly and provisionally.
Matte finish care !
Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing causes the finish to shine. !
The following can give the paint a glossy
appearance and thus reduce the matt effect:
R Rubbing hard with unsuitable agents
R Washing the vehicle in direct sunlight
! Never use paint cleaner, buffing or polishing
products, or gloss preserver, e.g. wax, for the purpose of paintwork care. These products
are only suitable for high-gloss surfaces. Their
use on vehicles with matte paintwork leads to
considerable surface damage or, more spe-
cifically, to shiny, spotted areas.
Always have paintwork repairs carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Only use automatic car washes which cor-
respond to the latest technological stand-
ards. Never use wash programs which finish
by treating the vehicle with hot wax.
Observe these notes if your vehicle has a clear
matte finish. This will help you to avoid damage
to the paintwork due to incorrect treatment.
These notes also apply to light alloy wheels with
a clear matte finish.
i Use only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of recommended and
approved Mercedes-Benz care products.
Cleaning the decorative film !
The following may have an effect on the ser-
vice life and color of decorative film:
R sunlight
R temperature, e.g. hot-air fan
R weather conditions
R stone impacts and dirt
R chemical cleaning agents
R greasy substances
! Do not use any types of polish on matt dec-
orative film. Polishing surfaces covered with
film gives it a shiny finish.
! Do not treat matt or structured decorative
film with wax. This may lead to marks that
cannot be removed.
Observe the notes in the matte finish paintwork
care and treatment chapter (Y page 328).
These notes also apply for matte decorative
films.
To clean, use plenty of water and a mild cleaning
agent without additional or abrasive products, 328
CareMaintenance and care

e.g. a car shampoo approved for Mercedes-
Benz.
X Dry vehicles covered with film using a soft,
absorbent cloth after every wash.
Water marks could otherwise form.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected by
corrosion and damage caused by inadequate
care cannot always be completely repaired. In
such cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
X Remove dirt immediately, where possible,
while avoiding rubbing too hard.
The decorative film may be irreparably dam-
aged.
X Soak insect remains with insect remover and
rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
X Soak bird droppings with water and rinse off
the treated areas afterwards.
The Paint Cleaner cleaning product, which has
been approved and recommended for
Mercedes-Benz, should be used when dirt has
penetrated the decorative film surface or the
decorative film has become dull.
The manufacturer can provide you with infor-
mation on special care and cleaning products.
Surfaces covered with a decorative film may,
once a decorative film has been removed, show visual differences from the surfaces that were
not protected by a decorative film.
i Have work or repairs on decorative film car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for this
purpose. Cleaning the vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels G
WARNING
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 G
WARNING
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.
X Clean 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 G
WARNING
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. Care
329Maintenance and care
Z

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

X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the SmartKey is in position 0048in the ignition
lock.
X Open the camera cover for cleaning via the
multimedia system (see Digital Operator's
Manual).
X To clean the camera: use clean water and a
soft cloth to clean the camera lens 0043.
360° camera: if you drive at speeds above
20 mph (30 km/h) or with the SmartKey in posi- tion 0092or0047 in the ignition lock, the cover of
the 360° camera closes.
Cleaning the exhaust pipe G
WARNING
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 burns.
Always be particularly careful and supervise
children closely around the exhaust pipe and
the exhaust pipe trims. Allow these compo-
nents to cool down before touching 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.
For heavier soiling, you can apply a fine paint- work polish with a microfiber cloth. Remove
the excess polish residue after polishing.
Impurities combined with the effects of road grit
and corrosive environmental factors may cause flash rust to form on the surface. You can
restore the original shine of the exhaust pipe by
cleaning it regularly, especially in winter and
after washing.
X Clean the exhaust pipe with a chrome care
product tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning the trailer tow hitch H
Environmental note
Dispose of rags soaked in oil and grease in an environmentally responsible manner. !
Do not clean the ball coupling with a power
washer. Do not use solvents.
! Please note the care instructions in the
trailer coupling manufacturer's operating
instructions. The ball coupling must be cleaned if it becomes
dirty or corroded.
X Remove rust on the ball of the ball coupling,
e.g. with a wire brush.
X Remove dirt with a clean, lint-free cloth or a
brush.
X After cleaning, lightly oil or grease ball cou-
pling 0043.
X Check that the vehicle's trailer tow hitch is
working properly.
i You can also have the maintenance work on
the ball coupling and the trailer tow hitch car-
ried out by a qualified specialist workshop. Interior care
Cleaning the display !
For cleaning, do not use any of the following:
R alcohol-based thinner or gasoline
R abrasive cleaning agents
R commercially-available household cleaning
agents
These may damage the display surface. Do
not put pressure on the display surface when
cleaning. This could lead to irreparable dam-
age to the display. Care
331Maintenance and care Z