2020 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS Owners Manual

Dif
fere nces betw een differe nt vehicl eleve ls
com paredtothenor malle ve l Ve
hicl e
le ve l Ve
hicl es
without Off-
ro ad pac kage Ve
hicl eswith
Of f-road pack‐
ag e
Ca rwa sh Approx.
+3.5 in
(+90 mm) Appr
ox.+3.5 in
(+90 mm)
Of f-roa d
le ve l+3 Una
vailable Approx.+3.5 in
(+90 mm)
Of f-roa d
le ve l+2 Una
vailable Approx.+2.4 in
(+60 mm)
Of f-roa d
le ve l+1 Appr
ox.
+2.4 in
(+60 mm) Appr
ox.+1 .2 in
(+30 mm)
Spor tA pprox.-0.6 in
(-1 5mm) Appr
ox.-0.6 in
(-1 5mm)
Spor t+A pprox.-1 .0 in
(-25 mm) Appr
ox.-1 .0 in
(-25 mm) Fu
nction ofRO AD SUR FACE SCAN
% This function isno tav ailable inall coun tries. The
ROAD SUR FACE SCAN function mon itor sth e
ro ad infron tof your vehicle using amultifunc‐
tion camer a1. ROAD SUR FACE SCAN detects
une venness inthero ad sur face, e.g. bump s,
bef oreth eve hicle drives ove rth em. Chassis
mo vements arere duced anddriving comfortis
incr eased. RO
AD SUR FACE SCAN isaut omat icallyact ivat ed
if th efo llo wing condition sar eme t:
R Drive pr og ram A (Comfort)or N
(CUR VE)issele cted.
R The vehicle issetto thenor mal leve l.
R Youar edr ivin gat aspee dbe tween 4mp h
(7 km/ h)and 112mp h(1 80 km/h).
Sy stem limit s
RO AD SUR FACE SCAN can beimpair edinthe
fo llo wing situat ionsorcan stop funct ioning:
R Ifth ero adw ayisinsuf ficie ntly lit, e.g. at
nigh t.
R Insno w,rain, fog, hea vyspr ay,if th er eis
gl ar e, indir ect sunlight oringrea tly varying
ambien tlight .
R Ifth ewindshield inthear ea ofmultifunc tion
camer a1 isdir ty,fo gg ed up, damag edor
co vered.
R Ifth ero ad sur face hasno optic stru ctur eor
re flect slight.
R Ifyo uar edr ivin gto oclose totheve hicle in
fr ont. Dr
iving andparking 263

R
Ifsections ofthero uteha ve ave ry small
ra dius ofcur vatur e.
R Dur ing abrupt driving maneuv ers, e.g. heavy
br aking orsudden acceleration.
Obser vetheno teson cleaning themultifunc tion
camer a(/ page490).
Fu nction ofreco very mode &
WARNIN GRisk ofinju rydue totheve hi‐
cle moving upand down
When free driving mode isactiv ated, the
ve hicle bounces upand down. Body parts
could become trapped ifth ey arebe tween
th eve hicle body andthetir es orunder neath
th eve hicle. #
Mak esur eth at nobody isunde ror in
th eimmediat evicinit yof theve hicle
when free driving mode isactiv ated. *
NO
TERisk ofdama gedue totheve hicle
mo ving upand down When
free driving mode isactiv ated, the
ve hicle movesup and down. Vehicle parts
ma ybe damag edifth eunderbody bottoms
out. #
Mak esur eth at ther eis suf ficie nt
gr ou nd clearance whenro ck ing free
mode isact ivat ed. Ro
cking free mode isafunc tion ofthesuspen‐
sion whichcan assis tth edr iver on loose surfa‐
ces (e.g.sand ,sno w)whe nfreei ng ave hicle
whic hhas become stuc k.
The vehicle body rock sin slo w,vertical motion s
when reco very mode hasbeen activated. This
te mp orarily puts thewheels undergreat erload,
whic hmeans they have inc reased tractionand
th eve hicle isfreed.
Yo ucan activat efree drivin gmod evia Off-ro ad
As sis t(/ page26 8). Fu
nction ofindividua lwheel control &
WARNIN GRisk ofbeco ming trap ped
du eto theve hicle lowe ring
The vehicle canbelowe redwhen theindivid‐
ual wheel control func tion hasbeen activa‐
te d. Body partscould become trapped ifth ey
ar ebe tween theve hicle body andthetir es or
under neathth eve hicle. #
Mak esur eth at nobody isunde rth e
ve hicle orintheimmediat evicin ityof
th ewheel arch es when individual wheel
con trol isactiv ated. *
NO
TERisk ofdama gedue totheve hicle
mo ving upand down The
vehicle canbelowe redor raised onone
or mor ewheels whentheindividual wheel
con trol func tion hasbeen activated. Vehicle
par tscould bedamag eddue tocont actwith
object s. #
Mak esur eth at theve hicle hassuffi‐
cie ntroom tomo vewhen theindividual 26
4
Driving andparking

wheel
control fun ction has been activa‐
te d. Indiv
idual wheel control isafunc tion ofthesus‐
pension ,whic hcan beused tosetth eve hicle
le ve lfo reac hwhee lindivi dually.This canhelp to
im prov ealignment ofthebody when driving off-
ro ad.
Yo ucan activat eind ivid ual wheel contro lvia Off-
ro ad Assis t(/ page26 8).
Ad jus tingthe vehicl eleve l(v ehicles withE-
AC TIVE BODY CONT ROL) &
WARNIN GRisk ofacci dent because
ve hicle leve lis toohigh
If yo udr ive at ahigh ervehicle leve l,th edr iv‐
ing charact eristic sma ybe impair eddue to
th ehigher vehicle centerofgrav ity .
The vehicle candrift outw ards, forex am ple,
when steer ing orcor ner ing. #
Alw aysch oose ave hicle leve lwhic his
suit edtothedr iving style and thero ad
sur face condi tions. &
WARNIN GRisk ofentr apment from vehi‐
cle lowe ring
Whe nlowe ring theve hicle, people could
become trapped ifth eir limbs arebe tween
th eve hicle body andthetir es orunder neath
th eve hicle. #
Mak esur eno one isunder neathth e
ve hicle orintheimmediat evicinit yof
th ewheel arch es when theve hicle is
being lowe red. &
WARNIN GRisk ofbeco ming trap ped
du eto theve hicle lowe ring
Ve hicl eswith AIRMA TICorleve lcontr ol:
when youunlo adlugg ageor lea vetheve hi‐
cle, theve hicle firs trises slightly andthen
re tur ns tothese tle ve lshor tly af te rw ards.
Yo uor anyone else inthevicinit yof the
wheel arch es ortheunderbody couldthus
bec ome trapped.
The vehicle canalso belowe redaf te rbeing
loc ked. #
When leaving theve hicle, makesur e
th at nobody isin thevicin ityofthe
wheel arch es ortheunderbody . Re
quirement s:
R The vehicle hasbeen star ted.
R Vehicl eswithout Off-road package:th e
ve hicle isbeing driven no faster than 40 mph
(65 km/ h)or when being operated witha
trai lerorbicy clerack withacor rectl yes tab‐
lished electrical connecti on19mp h
(30 km/ h).
R Vehicl eswith Off-road package:
- Off-road leve l+1: theve hicle isno tmo v‐
ing faster than 62 mph(1 00 km/h) or
whe nbei ng oper ated withatrai ler or
bicy clerack withacor rectl yes tablished
elect rical connecti on19mp h(3 0km/h).
- Off-road leve l+2: theve hicle isno tmo v‐
ing faster than 40 mph(65 km/h) or
when being operated withatrailer or
bicy clerack withacor rectly established
elect rical connecti on19mp h(30 km/h). Dr
iving andparking 265

-
Off-road leve l+3: theve hicle isno tmo v‐
ing faster than 12 mp h(20 km/h).
Ra ising theve hicl e(v ehic leswithout Off-
ro ad pac kage) #
Push rock er switc h1 forw ards.
In dicat orlam p2 flashes whiletheve hicle is
being raised andlight sup con tinuousl ywhen
it has finis hed rising. Yo
ur sele ction issave d. The off-r oad leve lse t
re mains stor ed eve naf te rth eignition hasbeen
switc hedoff.
Oper ation withatrailer orbicy clerack :if yo u
ar edr ivin gat spee dsgrea terth an 19 mp h
(30 km/ h),theve hicle rises tothenor mal leve l
in thedr ive pr og rams Spor tC orSpor t+
B ifth eelectr icalconnect ionhas been cor‐
re ctly established.
The vehicle islowe redag ain inthefo llo wing sit‐
uation s:
R When drivin gfa ster than 50 mph(80 km/h).
R When driving brief lybe tween 40mph
(65 km/ h)and 50mph(80 km/h).
R Aftersele cting adif fere nt drive pr ogr am
us ing theDY NA MIC SELE CTswitc h.
The vehicle isadjus tedto theheight ofthe
act ive dr ive pr og ram.
Oper ation withatraile ror bic ycle rack :if yo u
ar edr ivin gat spee dsgreat erthan 19 mp h
(30 km/ h),theve hicle lowe rsto thenor mal leve l
if th eelectr icalconnect ionhas been correctly
es tablished. Lo
we ring theve hicl e(v ehic leswithout Off-
ro ad pac kage) #
Pull rock er switc h1.
The vehicle isadjus tedto theheight ofthe
act ive dr ive pr ogram.
Oper ation withatrailer orbicy clerack :th e
ve hicle lowe rsto thenor mal leve lif th eelectr ical
con nect ionhas been correctl yes tablished. 266
Driving andparking

Ra
ising theve hicl e(v ehic leswith Off-road
pac kage) #
Push rock er switc h1 forw ards.
R Off-ro ad leve l+1: one indic ator lam p2
light sup con tinuousl ywhen theve hicle
has finis hed rising.
R Off-road leve l+2: twoindic ator lam ps2
light upcon tinuousl ywhen theve hicle
has finis hed rising. R
Off-road leve l+3: thre eindicat orlam ps
2 light upcon tinuousl ywhen theve hicle
has finis hed rising.
Yo ur sele ction issave d. The off-r oad leve lse t
re mains stor ed eve naf te rth eignition hasbeen
switc hedoff.
The vehicle islowe redag ain inthefo llo wing sit‐
uation s:
R Off-ro ad leve l+3: when drivin gfa ster than
12 mp h(20 km/h).
The vehicle islowe redto off-r oad leve l+2.
R Off-ro ad leve l+2:
- When drivin gfa ster than 50 mph
(80 km/ h).
- When driving brief lybe tween 40mph
(65 km/ h)and 50mph(8 0km/h).
The vehicle islowe redto off-r oad leve l+1 .
Oper ation withatrailer orbicy clerack :if
yo uar edr ivin gat spee dsgrea terth an
19 mp h(3 0km/h), theve hicle lowe rsto the
nor malle ve lif th eelectr icalconnect ionhas
been correctl yes tablished. R
Off-road leve l+1:
- When drivin gfa ster than 71 mp h
(1 15 km/h) .
- Whe ndr ivi ng briefly be tween 62mph
(1 00 km/ h)and 71mp h(115 km/h) .
- Ope ratio nwi th atrail er or bicy cle
ra ck :yo uar edr ivin gat spee dsgreat er
th an 19 mp h(3 0km/h).
The vehicle islowe redto thenor mal leve l.
R Aftersele cting adif fere nt drive pr ogr am
us ing theDY NA MIC SELE CTswitc h.
The vehicle isadjus tedto theheight ofthe
act ive dr ive pr ogram.
Oper ation withatrailer orbicy clerack :
th eve hicle lowe rsto thenor mal leve lif th e
electr icalconnect ionhas been correctl y
es tablished.
Lo we ring theve hicl e(v ehic leswith Off-road
pac kage) #
Pull rock er switc h1.
R Off-road leve l+3: theve hicle islowe red
to off-r oad leve l+2. Twoindicat orlam ps Dr
iving andparking 26
7

2
light upcon tinuousl ywhen theve hicle
has finis hed lowe ring.
R Off-roa dleve l+2: theve hicle islowe red
to off-r oad leve l+1 .One indic ator lam p
2 light sup con tinuousl ywhen theve hi‐
cle has finis hed lowe ring.
R Off-roa dleve l+1: theve hicle islowe red
to thenor mal leve l.No indic ator lam p2
light sup when theve hicle hasfinis hed
lo we ring.
Yo ur sele ction issave d. The off-r oad leve lse t
re mains stor ed eve naf te rth eignition hasbeen
switc hedoff.
Se tting Off-road Assis t
Re quirement s:
R The vehicle isstatio nary
R The vehicle issetto off-r oad leve l1 or 2
R The Off-ro ad orOff-ro ad Plus (onlyve hicles
wit hOf f-road package )dr ive pr ogr am has
been select ed
R The ignit ionisswitc hedon
R Alldoor sand thehood areclosed R
The transmission isno teng aged inposition
005D
R Ther eis no trailer coupled
R The vehicle isoutdoor s
R The detected late ra linc linat ionoftheve hicle
mus tno texc eed appr ox.15 °
R The system iswit hin itsoper ating temp era‐
tur e
R The on-boar dvo ltag eis suf ficie ntly high
Mu ltimed iasystem:
4 © 5
Set ting s5
Assist ance
5 Offr oad Assist ant
Re covery mode
Re covery mode assiststh edr iver when pulling
aw ay on rough terrain, suchas san dor snow . #
Select Free DrivingAssi st. #
Select Start .
Re covery mode isactiv ated. #
Select Stoptostop reco very mode. Re
covery mode isau tomatical lydeactiv ated in
th efo llo wing situat ions:
R Youar eact uall ytra veling faster than 9mp h
(1 5 km/ h)
R Aftera ru nning timeof30 seco nds
R Itis de tected that an obj ect has hitthe
und erbody oftheve hicle hard
R Notall con dition sar eme t
% Further information onreco very mode
(/ page26 4).
Indiv idual wheelcon trol
Individ ualwhee lcontr olenabl estheve hicle leve l
to be setsepar ately foreac hwhee l. #
Select IndividualWhee lCtrl. . #
Setth eve hicle leve lfo rth edesir edwheel.
% Youcan also usetheto uc hdispl aytosetth e
le ve lfo rtw oor mor ewhee lsat thesame
time. #
Select Resettosetall wheels tothedef ault
se tting. 268
Driving andparking

Individu
alwheel controlisaut omatical lydeacti‐
va tedin thefo llo wing situat ions:
R Youar etrav eling faster than 9mp h
(1 5 km/ h)
R Itis de tected that an obj ect has hitthe
und erbody oftheve hicle hard
R Notall con dition sar eme t
% Further information onindividua lwheel con‐
tr ol (/ page26 4). Pa
rking Assis tPA RK TRONI C Fu
nction ofParking Assis tPA RK TRONI C
Pa rking AssistPA RK TRONI Cis an elec tron ic
par kingassi stanc esy stem withultr asound. It
monit orsth ear ea around your vehicle using six
sensor son thefront bum perand sixsensor son
th ere ar bum per.Pa rking AssistPA RK TRONI C
sho wsyouth edis tance betwee nyo ur vehicle
and ade tected obs tacle visually and audibly .
Pa rking AssistPA RK TRONI Cis on lyan aid. Itis
no ta subs titutefo ryo ur att entio nto thesur‐
ro und ings.The responsibili tyforsaf emaneu ver‐ ing
and parking remains withyo u. Mak esur e
th at ther ear eno per sons, animals orobjec tsin
th emaneuv ering area while maneuv ering and
par king in/exitingpar king spaces.
In thest andar dse tting ,an intermit tent wa rning
to ne sou nds from adi st anc eof appr oximat ely
1. 0 ft (0.3 m)toan obs tacle infront and approx ‐
imat ely3. 3ft (1.0 m) toan obs tacle beh ind. A
continu ouswa rning tone sou nds from adi st anc e
of appr oximat ely0. 7ft (0.2 m).Using theWarn
Early AllAroun dse tting inthemultimedia sys‐
te m, thewa rning tones forfr ont and side impact
pr otect ion can besetto sound atagr eat erdis‐
ta nce ofapprox imat ely3. 3ft (1.0 m) infront and
2.0 ft(0.6 m)onthesides (/page27 4).
% TheWar nEarl yAll Arou ndsetting isalwa ys
act ive fo rth ere ar oftheve hicle.
If Pa rking AssistPA RK TRONI Cis deac tiva ted,
Ac tivePa rking Assistis una vailable. Pa
rking Assis tPA RK TRONI Cdispl ayinthe
mu ltim edia system Ve
hicles withAc tivePa rking Assistwit hout a
360 °Camer a Dr
ivin gand parking269

Ve
hicles withAc tivePa rking Assistand a360 °
Camer a
If Ac tivePa rking Assistis deact ivat ed and an
obs tacle isde tected inthepat hof theve hicle, a
pop-up windowforPa rking AssistPA RK TRONI C
1 appear sin themultimedia system atspeeds
belo w6mp h(1 0 km/h).
The color oftheindividual segmentsof thewa rn‐
ing displa yis based onthedis tance tothede tec‐
te dobs tacle :
R Yello wsegment s:obs tacle sat adi st anc e
be tween appr ox.2.0 ft(0.6 m)and 3.3ft
(1 .0 m) R
Orang esegment s:obs tacle sat adi st anc e
be tween appr ox.1. 0 ft (0.3 m)and 2.0ft
(0.6 m)
R Redse gme nts: obstacle sat ave ry shor t
dis tance ofapprox .1. 0 ft (0.3 m)orless
Displa yof Parking Assis tPA RK TRONI Cin the
Head-u pDi spla y Op
tiona lly,obs tacle sde tected byParking Assist
PA RK TRONI Cfrom adis tance ofapprox imat ely
3. 3ft (1.0 m) infront 2and 2.0ft(0.6 m)on
th esides 3can also bedispla yedin theHead-
up Displa y. Sy
stem limit s
Pa rking AssistPA RK TRONI Cdoes notne cessa‐
ri ly take intoacc ount thefo llo wing obstacle s:
R Obs tacle sbel ow thede tection rang e, e.g .
pe rsons, animals orobject s.
R Obs tacle sab oveth ede tection rang e, e.g .
ove rhang ingloads, overhang sor loadin g
ra mp sof truc ks.
The sensor smus tbe free ofdir t,ice and slush.
Ot her wise, they ma yno tfunction correctly .
Cl ea nth esensor sre gular ly,especially afte rdr iv‐
ing off-r oad ,ta king careno tto scr atc hor dam‐
ag eth em.
Ve hicl eswith traile rhitc h:Parking Assist
PA RK TRONI Cis deac tiva tedfo rth ere ar zone
when youes tablish anelect rical connecti on
be tween your vehicle andatrailer . 27
0
Driving and parking