2019 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV window

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
G
WARNING
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:
R keep 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.
R never cover the air vents or air intake grilles in
the vehicle interior.
i For virtually draft-free ventilation, adjust the
sliders of the air vents to the center position. Setting the center air vents
0043
Center air vent, left
0044 Center air vent, right
0087 Center vent thumbwheel, right
0085 Center vent thumbwheel, left
X To open or close: turn thumbwheels0087
and 0085to the left or right. Setting the side air vents
Example
0043
Side window defroster vent
0044 Side air vent, left
0087 Thumbwheel for side air vent
X To open or close: turn thumbwheel0087up 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. 136
Setting the air ventsClimate control

G
WARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
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 X
Shift the transmission to position 005D
(Y page 148).
The transmission position indicator on the
multifunction display shows 005D
(Y page 149).
i You can start the engine in transmission
position 005Dand 005C.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey X
Turn the SmartKey to position 0049in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 140) and release it as soon
as the engine is running.
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.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Press the Start/Stop button once
(Y page 140).
The engine starts. Starting procedure via smartphone Observe the important safety notes on starting
the engine (Y
page 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:
R the SmartKey is in the ignition lock
R park position 005Dis selected
R the accelerator pedal is not depressed
R the anti-theft alarm system is not activated
R the panic alarm is not activated
R the hazard warning lamps are switched off
R the hood is closed
R the doors are closed and locked
R the windows and sliding sunroof are closed
Also make sure that:
R the fuel tank is sufficiently filled
R the starter battery has been sufficiently
charged G
WARNING
Limbs could be crushed or trapped if the
engine is started unintentionally during ser-
vice or maintenance work. There is a risk of
injury.
Always secure the engine against uninten-
tional starting before carrying out mainte-
nance or repair work. 142
DrivingDriving and parking

G
WARNING
Fuels are toxic and harmful to health. There is a risk of injury.
You must avoid fuels coming into contact with
skin, eyes and clothes or being swallowed.
Do not inhale the fuel vapors. Keep children
away from fuels.
Keep doors and windows closed during the
refueling process.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following points:
R Immediately rinse the fuel off your skin with
soap and water.
R If you get fuel into your eyes, immediately
rinse your eyes throughly with clean water.
Seek medical attention immediately.
R Seek medical attention immediately if fuel
has been swallowed. Do not induce vomit-
ing.
R Immediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel. G
WARNING
Electrostatic charging can lead to the creation
of sparks and ignite fuel vapor. There is a risk of fire and explosion.
Touch the metallic body of the vehicle before
you open the fuel filler cap or handle the pump nozzle. Any possible electrostatic charge
present will in this way be depleted.
Do not get into the vehicle again during the
refueling process. Otherwise, electrostatic
charge could build up again.
! Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Do not switch on the ignition if you accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will enter the fuel system. Even small amounts of the wrong fuel could
result in damage to the fuel system and the
engine. Notify a qualified specialist workshop
and have the fuel tank and fuel lines drained
completely.
! Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system. !
Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
! Use a filter when adding fuel from a fuel can.
The fuel lines and/or the fuel injection system could otherwise be blocked by particles fromthe fuel can.
Do not get into the vehicle again during the refu-
eling process. Otherwise, electrostatic charge
could build up again.
If you overfill the fuel tank, fuel could spray out
when the fuel pump nozzle is removed.
For further information on fuel and fuel quality
(Y page 385). Refueling
General information Pay attention to the important safety notes
(Y
page 155).
The fuel filler flap is unlocked or locked auto-
matically when you unlock or lock the vehicle
with the SmartKey or using KEYLESS-GO.
The position of the fuel filler cap is displayed
00B6 in the instrument cluster. The arrow next
to the filling pump indicates the side of the vehi- cle.
Opening the fuel filler flap 0043
To open the fuel filler flap
0044 To insert the fuel filler cap
0087 Instruction label for fuel type to be refueled
0085 Tire pressure table 156
RefuelingDriving and parking

such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
! When scraping ice off the rear window, take
care not to damage the rear-window seal or
trim.
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road sur- faces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and
braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise control or
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position 005C.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control using
corrective steering.
When driving in snow with or without snow
chains, select driving program Slippery
(Y page 147).
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing
point do not guarantee that the road surface is
free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in wooded areas or on bridges. You should pay
special attention to road conditions when tem-
peratures are around the freezing point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see (Y page 354).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see (Y page 354).
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (Y page 372). Off-road driving
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle. G
WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with hot parts of the exhaust system. There is a risk of fire.
When driving on an unpaved road or off-road,
check the vehicle underside regularly. In par-
ticular, remove trapped plant parts or other
flammable material. Contact a qualified spe-
cialist workshop immediately if damage is
detected. G
WARNING
If the vehicle level is high, the vehicle center of gravity is raised. This could cause the vehicleto tip over more easily on uphill or downhill
gradients. There is a risk of an accident.
Select the lowest possible vehicle level.
! There is a risk of damage to the vehicle if:
R the vehicle becomes stuck, e.g. on a high
curb or an unpaved road
R you drive too fast over an obstacle, e.g. a
curb, a speed bump or a pothole in the road
R a heavy object strikes the underbody or
parts of the chassis
In situations like this, the body, the under-
body, chassis parts, wheels or tires could be
damaged without the damage being visible.
Components damaged in this way can unex-
pectedly fail or, in the case of an accident, no
longer withstand the loads they are designed
to.
If the underbody paneling is damaged, com-
bustible materials such as leaves, grass or 166
Driving tipsDriving and parking

R
Take care when turning on an uphill or down-
hill slope or when driving across a slope. The
vehicle could otherwise tip over.
R Always keep the doors, the tailgate, the side
windows and the sliding sunroof closed while the vehicle is in motion.
R Do not shift the automatic transmission to
position 005C.
R Observe the notes on off-road fording
(Y page 165).
i Information about retrofitting special all-ter-
rain tires is available from any qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
i Do not use the HOLD function when driving
off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gradients
or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD
function cannot hold the vehicle on such sur- faces.
Checklist before driving off-road !
If the engine oil warning lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion, stop the vehicle in a
safe place as soon as possible. Check the
engine oil level. The engine oil warning lamp
warning must not be ignored. Continuing the
journey while the symbol is displayed could
lead to engine damage.
X Engine oil level: check the engine oil level
and add engine oil if necessary.
When you drive on steep gradients, the engine
oil level must be sufficiently high to ensure
that oil is supplied correctly in the vehicle.
X Tire-changing tool kit: check that the jack is
working and make sure you have the lug
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tires: check the tread depth and
pressure of the tires.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tires.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X Rims: dented or bent rims can result in a loss
of tire pressure and damage the tire bead.
Before driving off-road, check the wheels and
replace them if necessary. Checklist after driving off-road !
If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on normal
roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle.
This allows you to detect damage promptly and reduce the risk of an accident to yourself and
other road users.
X If the Offroad orOffroad Plus drive program
is selected: select the Individual,Sport,
Comfort orSlippery drive program
(Y page 147).
X Deactivate the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(Y page 218).
X Deactivate DSR (Y page 215).
X Lower the vehicle level again to a level suita-
ble to the road conditions, e.g. to the normal
level.
X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Clean the front and rear license plates.
X Clean the wheels and tires with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, wheel housings and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check for
any foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of plants
have become trapped. These increase the risk of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake
hoses or the rubber bellows of the axle joints
and propeller shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the entire
undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes, body-
work structure, steering, chassis and exhaust
system for damage.
X After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the wheels
and drive train and remove them if necessary.
Foreign objects can disturb the balance and
cause vibrations. 168
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Most U.S. states and all Canadian provinces
require by law:
R Safety chains between the towing vehicle and
the trailer. The chains should be cross-woundunder the trailer drawbar. They must be fas-
tened to the vehicle's trailer coupling, not to
the bumper or the axle.
Leave enough play in the chains to make tight
cornering possible.
R A separate brake system for certain types of
trailer.
R Safety switch for braked trailers. Check the
specific legal requirements applicable to your
state.
If the trailer becomes detached from the tow-
ing vehicle, the safety feature triggers the
trailer brakes. Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements con-
cerning the towing of a trailer, e.g. speed restric-
tions. Make sure that your car/trailer combina- tion complies with the local regulations:
R in your place of residence
R in the location to which you are driving
The police and local authorities can provide reli-
able information.
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
R To gain driving experience and to become
accustomed to the new handling characteris-
tics, you should practice the following in a
traffic-free location:
- cornering
- stopping
- backing up
R Before driving, check:
- trailer tow hitch
- safety switch for braked trailers
- safety chains
- electrical connections
- lights
- wheels
R Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
R If the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away carefully. Brake manually using the brake controller and check whether
the brakes function correctly.
R Secure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is in
motion.
R When you couple up a trailer, check at regular
intervals that the load is firmly secured. If the trailer is equipped with trailer lights and
brakes, check the trailer to ensure that these
are working.
R Bear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when driving
without one. Avoid sudden steering move-
ments.
R The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly, has a decreased
gradient climbing capability and a longer
braking distance.
It is more susceptible to side winds and
requires more careful steering.
R If possible, do not brake suddenly, but instead
depress the brake pedal moderately at first sothat the trailer can activate its brakes. Then
increase the pressure on the brake pedal.
R If the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears on uphill or downhill gra-
dients, shift to a lower gear using the left-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter.
A lower gear and lower speed reduce the risk of engine failure.
R When driving downhill, shift to a lower gear to
utilize the engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if instal- led, the trailer brakes.
R If the coolant temperature increases dramat-
ically while the air-conditioning system is
switched on, switch off the air-conditioning
system.
Coolant heat can also be dissipated by open-
ing the windows and switching the ventilation blower and the interior temperature to the
highest level.
R When overtaking, pay particular attention to
the extended length of your vehicle/trailer
combination.
Due to the length of the vehicle/trailer com-
bination, you require additional road space in
relation to the vehicle you are overtaking
before you can change back to the original
lane. Towing a trailer
225Driving and parking Z

X
Press the 0061or0076 button to start dialing.
or
X To exit the redial memory: press the0076
or 0038 button. Assistance menu
Introduction Depending on the equipment installed in the
vehicle, you have the following options in the
DriveAssist
DriveAssist menu:
R Displaying the assistance graphic
(Y page 238)
R Activating/deactivating the Traffic Sign
Assist display (Y page 238)
R Activating or deactivating Active Steering
Assist (Y page 238)
R Activating/deactivating Active Brake Assist
(Y page 239)
R Activating/deactivating Active Brake Assist
with cross-traffic function (Y page 239)
R Activating/deactivating ATTENTION ASSIST
(Y page 239)
R Activating/deactivating Blind Spot Assist or
Active Blind Spot Assist (Y page 239)
R Activating/deactivating Lane Keeping Assist
or Active Lane Keeping Assist (Y page 239)
Displaying the assistance graphic X
Press the 0059or0065 button on the steering
wheel to select the DriveAssist
DriveAssist menu.
X Press 0063or0064 to select Assistance
Assistance
Graphic Graphic.
X Confirm by pressing 0076on the steering
wheel.
The multifunction display shows the Active
Distance Assist DISTRONIC distance display
on the assistant display.
The assistance graphic displays the status of
and information from the following driving
systems or driving safety systems: R
Traffic Sign Assist (Y page 206)
R Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
(Y page 172)
R Active Brake Assist (Y page 67)
R Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic func-
tion (Y page 73)
R ATTENTION ASSIST (Y page 204)
R Lane Keeping Assist (Y page 208) or Active
Lane Keeping Assist (Y page 212)
R DSR (Y page 215)
R Off-road program (vehicles with Off-Road
Engineering package) (Y page 217)
R Rear window wipers (Y page 123)
X Press 0064to display the ATTENTION ASSIST
assessment.
Traffic Sign Assist You can switch the Traffic Sign Assist message
function on or off in the
Traffic TrafficSign
SignAssist
Assist
menu. When the function is activated, detected traffic signs and information appear in the mul-
tifunction display for five seconds.
X Press the 0059or0065 button on the steering
wheel to select the DriveAssist DriveAssistmenu.
X Press the 0063or0064 button to select
Traffic Sign Assist
Traffic Sign Assist.
X Confirm by pressing 0076on the steering
wheel.
The current selection appears.
X To activate/deactivate the message func-
tion: press the 0076button again.
For further information about Traffic Sign Assist, see (Y page 206).
Activating or deactivating Active Steer- ing Assist X
Press the 0059or0065 button on the steering
wheel to select the DriveAssist DriveAssistmenu.
X Press the 0063or0064 button to select
Active Steering Assist
Active Steering Assist.
X Confirm by pressing 0076on the steering
wheel.
The current selection appears.
X To activate/deactivate: press the0076but-
ton again.
When Active Steering Assist is activated, the
multifunction display shows the Active Active
Steering Assist
Steering Assist On
Onmessage. 238
Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions 0075
Rear Left Malfunc‐ Rear Left Malfunc‐
tion Service tion Service
Required Required
orRear
Rear
Right Malfunction
Right Malfunction
Service Required Service Required The rear left-hand or right-hand restraint system is malfunctioning.
The 0075 warning lamp also lights up in the instrument cluster.
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be triggered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 0075
Rear Rear
Center
Center Malfunc‐
Malfunc‐
tion Service
tion Service
Required Required The rear center restraint system is malfunctioning. The
0075warning
lamp also lights up in the instrument cluster.
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be triggered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 0075
Left Side Curtain Left Side Curtain
Airbag Malfunction Airbag Malfunction
Service Required Service Required
or
Right Side Curtain
Right Side Curtain
Airbag Malfunction Airbag Malfunction
Service Required Service Required The left-hand or right-hand window curtain air bag is malfunctioning.
The 0075 warning lamp also lights up in the instrument cluster.
G WARNING
The left or right window curtain air bag may either be triggered unin-
tentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 254
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays