2019 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV maintenance

#
Make sure that no windsc reen washer
concentrate spills out next tothefiller
opening. #
Remo vecap 1bytheta b. #
Top up thewa sher fluid.
R Further information about thewa sher fluid
(/ page 605) Ke
eping the air-water duct free #
Keep the area between the bonn etand the
windscreen free of deposits, e.g. ice, sn ow
and lea ves. Cleaning and care
Information on
washing theve hicle in a car
wa sh &
WARNING Risk of an accident due to
re duced braking po wer af terwa shing the
ve hicle
Braking ef ficiency is reduced af terwa shing
th eve hicle. #
Afterth eve hicle has been washed,
brake carefully while paying attention to
th e traf fic conditions until braking
po we r has been fully restored. *
NO
TEDama gedue tounsuitable car
wa sh #
Before driving into a car wash make
sure that the car wash is suitable for
th eve hicle dimensions. #
Ensure there is suf ficient ground clear‐
ance between the underbody and the
guide rails of the car wash. #
Ensure that the clearance width of the
car wash, in particular the width of the
guide rails, is suf ficient. To
avo id damage to yourvehicle when using a
car wash, ensure thefo llowing beforehand:
R Active Dis tance Assi stDISTRONIC and the
HOLD function are deactivated.
R the 360° Camera or there ve rsing camera is
switched off.
R the side windo wsand sliding sun roof are
comple tely closed.
R the outside mir rors are folded in.
R the blo werfo rth eve ntilation/heating is
switched off. 538
Maintenance and care

R
the windscreen wiper switch is in position
g.
R theke y is at a minimum dis tance of 3 m
aw ay from theve hicle, otherwise theta ilgate
could open unin tentionally.
R in car washes with a con veyo r sy stem: neu‐
tral iis engaged.
% Drive stra ight and in tothe cent reofthe
guide rails of the car wash topreve nt dam‐
age tothe tyres and rims.
% In car washes with a con veyo r sy stem: if you
wo uld like tolea vetheve hicle while it is
being washed, make sure theke y is located
in theve hicle. The jgear is otherwise
automatically engaged.
% If, af terth e car wash, youre mo vethewax
from the windscreen and wiper rubbers, this
will pr event smearing and reduce wiper
noise.
Car wash mode
In car wash mode, theve hicle is prepared for
driving into the automatic car wash. Car wash mode can be activated up
toa speed of
10 km/h(/ page 540).
The following settings are made when car wash
mode is activated:
R the outside mir rors are folded in.
R thera in sensor is deactivated topreve ntthe
windscreen washer sy stem from starting up
automaticall y.
R there ar wind owwiper is deactivated.
R the windo wsand the sliding sunroof are
closed.
R the air conditioning sy stem is set toair-recir‐
culation mode.
R Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is deacti vated.
R Vehicles with 360° Camera: the front
image is activated af ter appro x. eight sec‐
onds.
R Vehicles with AIRMATIC or E- ACTIVE
BO DY CONT ROL:theve hicle is raised tothe
maximum possible chassis le vel
( / page 265) (/ page275). If one of
the settings cann otbe made, a %is
displa yed behind the cor responding setting.
Car wash mode is automatically deactivated at
speeds abo ve10 km/h.
The following settings are reset when car wash
mode is deactivated:
R the outside mir rors are folded out.
R thera in sensor is activated.
R there ar wind owwiper is activated.
R the air conditioning sy stem is set tofresh air
mode.
R Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is reset tothe
pr ev iously selec ted setting.
R the windo wsand the sliding sunroof remain
closed.
R Vehicles with 360° Camera: the front
image is deactivated at speeds abo ve
18 km/h.
R Vehicles with AIRMATIC or E- ACTIVE
BO DY CONT ROL:theve hicle is lo weredto
th e pr eviously set chassis le vel. Maintenance and care
539

Ac
tivating/deactivating automatic car wash
mode Re
quirements:
R theve hicle is stationary
R the engine is running.
Multimedia sy stem:
4 © 5
Settings
5 Schnellzugriff (Quick access)
Ac tivating automatic car wash mode #
Select Automatic car wash mode. #
Select Start.
If one of the settings cann otbe selected, this is
displa yedby a% behind there spective set‐
ting.
% For an overview of the settings made when
activating automatic car wash mode
(/ page 538).
Deactivating automatic car wash mode #
Select Stop.
The automatic car wash settings are reset. %
The automatic car wash mode is automati‐
cally deactivated as soon as a speed of
10 km/h is exceeded. Information on using a high-p
ressure cleaner &
WARNING Risk of an accident when
using high-pressure cleane rswith circu‐
lar jet nozzles
The wate r jet of a circular jet nozzle (dirt
grinder) can cause extern ally invisible dam‐
age tothe tyres or chassis parts.
Components damaged in this wa y may unex‐
pec tedly fail. #
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with
circular jet nozzles toclean theve hicle. #
Have damaged tyres or chassis parts
re placed immediatel y. To
avo id damage to yourvehicle, obser vethefo l‐
lowing when using a high-pressure cleaner:
R keep theke y at least 3 m away from theve hi‐
cle. Otherwise theta ilgate could open unin‐
te ntional ly.
R maintain a dis tance of at least 30 cm tothe
ve hicle.
R vehicles with deco rative foil: parts of your
ve hicle are co vered with a decorative foil.
Maintain a dis tance of at least 70 cm
between thefo il-c ove red parts of theve hicle
and the nozzle of the high-pressure cleaner.
Mo vethe high-pressure cleaner nozzle
around whilst cleaning. The waterte mp era‐
ture of the high-pressure cleaner must not
exc eed 60 °C.
R obser vethe information on the cor rect dis‐
ta nce in the equipment manufacturer's oper‐
ating instructions.
R do not point the nozzle of the high-pressure
cleaner directly at sensitive parts such as
tyres, slits, electrical components, bat teries,
light bulbs and ventilation sl ots. 540
Maintenance and care

Wa
shing theve hicle byhand Obser
vethe legal requ irements, e.g. in a number
of countries, washing byhand is only permitted
in specially designated wash ba ys. #
Use a mild cleaning agent, e.g. car shampoo. #
Washtheve hicle with luk ewarmwate r using
a soft car sponge. When doing so, do not
ex pose theve hicle todirect sunlight. #
Carefully hose theve hicle off with water and
dry using a chamois. Take care not topoint th
ewate r jet directly towa rdsth e air inlet
grille below the bonn et. Maintenance and care
541

Note
s on paint work/matt finish paint workcare Obser
vethefo llowing information: Cleaning and car
eA voiding paintwork damage and inter fere nce tothe
dr iver assistance sy stems
Pa intwork R
Insect remains: soak with insect remo ver and rinse off the
trea ted areas af terw ards.
R Bird droppings: soak with water and rinse off af terw ards.
R Tree resin, oils, fuels and greases: remo veby rubbing gen‐
tly wi tha clo thsoaked in petroleum ether or lighter fluid.
R Coolant and brake fluid: remo vewith a damp clo thand
clean water.
R Tarst ains: use tarre mo ver.
R Wax: use silicone remo ver. R
Do not attach sticke rs,fi lms or similar materials. Only
ha ve film attached tothe bumper at a qualified specialist
wo rkshop.
R Remo vedirt immediately, where possible. 542
Maintenance and care

Cleaning and car
eA voiding paintwork damage and inter fere nce tothe
dr iver assistance sy stems
Matt finish R
Only use care products appr ovedfo r Mercedes-Benz. R
Do not attach sticke rs,fi lms or similar materials. Only
ha ve film attached tothe bumper at a qualified specialist
wo rkshop.
R Do not polish theve hicle and light-alloy wheels.
R Only use car washes that cor respond tothe latest engi‐
neering standards.
R Do not use car wash programmes with a final hot wax
treatment.
R Do not use paint cleane rs, buf fing or polishing products,
gl oss preser vers, e.g. wax. In
theeve nt of paintwork dama ge:
R Alw ays ha vepaintwork repairs car ried out at
a qu alified specialist workshop.
R Make sure thera dar sensors function
(/ page 228). Note
s on cleaning decorative foils Obser
vethe no tes on matt finish care in the
ch ap ter "No tes on paintwork/matt finish paint‐
wo rkcare" (/ page 542). Th eyalso apply to
matt decorative foils. Maintenance and care
543

Obser
vethefo llowing information: Cleaning
Avoiding dama getothe decorative foil
R For cleaning, use plenty of water and a mild cleaning agent without
additives or abrasive substances, e.g. a car sha mpoo appr ovedfor
Mercedes-Benz.
R Remo vedirt immediately, where possible, whilst avoiding rubbing
to o hard. There is otherwise a risk of damaging the decorative foil
ir re parably.
R Ifth ere is dirt on thefinish or if the decorative foil is dull: use the
Pa int Cleaner recommended and appr ovedfo r Mercedes-Benz.
R Insect remains: soak with insect remo ver and rinse off the treated
areas af terw ards.
R Bird droppings: soak with water and rinse off af terw ards.
R Toprev ent waterst ains, dry a foil-wrapped vehicle with a soft,
absorbent clo thafte reve rycar wash. R
The service life and colouring of decorative foils are impaired by:
- sunlight
- temp erature, e.g. hot air blo wer
- weather conditions
- stone chippings and dirt
- chemical cleaning agents
- oily products
R Do not use polish on matt decorative foil. Po lishing will ha vethe ef fect of
shining thefo il-wrapped sur face.
R Do not treat matt or stru ctured deco rative foils with wax.Pe rm anent
st ains may occur. Sc
ratches, cor rosive deposits, areas af fected by
cor rosion and damage caused byincor rect care
cannot al ways be comple tely repaired. In such
cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
Yo u can obtain more information on care and
cleaning products from the manufacturer. In
the case of foil-wrapped sur faces, optical dif‐
fe re nces may occur between the sur faces that
we renot pr otected bya decorative foil af ter
re moving a decorative foil. %
Have wo rkor repairs todecorative foils car‐
ri ed out at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. in a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. 544
Maintenance and care

Note
s on care of car parts &
WARNING Risk of entrapment if the
windscreen wipers are swit ched on while
th e windscreen is being cleaned
If th e windscreen wipers are set in motion
while you are cleaning the windscreen or
wiper blades, you can be trapped bythe
wiper arm. #
Alw ays switch off the windscreen wip‐
ers and the ignition before cleaning the
windscreen or wiper blades. &
WARNING Risk of bu rns from tailpipes
and tailpipe trim
The tailpipe and tailpipe trim can become
ve ry hot. If you come into contact with these
parts of theve hicle, you could burn yourself. #
Alw ays be particular lycareful around
th eta ilpipe and theta ilpipe trim. #
Allow theve hicle parts tocool down
before youto uch them. Obser
vethefo llowing information: Note
s on cleaning and car eA voiding vehicle damage
Wheels/rims Usewate r and acid-free wheel cleaners. R
Do not use acidic wheel cleaners toremo vebrake dust.
This could damage wheel bolts and brake components.
R Toavoid cor rosion of the brake discs and brakepads, drive
th eve hicle for a few minutes af ter cleaning before parking
it. The brake discs and brakepads warm up and dry out.
Wi ndo ws
Cleanthe windo wsonthe inside and outside using a damp
clo thand cleaning agents recommended byMercedes-Benz. Do not use dry clo
ths or abrasive or sol vent-based cleaning
agents toclean the inside of windo ws.
Wi per blades
Fold out the wiper blades and clean them using a damp clo th.D o not clean the wiper blades too of ten. Maintenance and care
545