2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV warning

Obser
vethefo llowing no tes during heavy precipi-
ta tion or in conditions in whi chaquaplaning may
occur:
R reduce speed
R avoid tyre ruts
R avoid sudden steering mo vements
R brake careful ly
% Also obser vethe no tes on regula rly ch ecking
wheels and tyres (/ page 400).
N
No ot
tes on dr
es on dr iving t
iving thr
hrough w
ough w at
ater on t
er on t he r
he r oad sur-
oad sur-
f
f ace
ace
Wa ter which has entered into theve hicle can
damage the engine, electrics and transmission.
Wa ter can also enter the air intake of the engine
and cause engine damage.
Obser vethefo llowing if you must drive thro ugh
wa ter:
R Obser vethe maximum permissible ford ing
dep th (/ page 436).
R Drive at a maximum speed of 10 km/h; water
can otherwise enter theve hicle interior or
engine compartment. R
Vehicles tr avelling in front, or oncoming vehi-
cles, can create waves which may exceed the
maximum permissible dep thofthewa ter.
The braking e.ect of the brakes is reduced aTer
fo rd ing. Brake carefully while paying attention to
th e tra1c conditions until braking po wer has been
fully restored. N
No
ot
tes on
es on o.-r
o.-r oad
oad dr
driving
iving &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident if you do not
ke ep toline of fall on inclines
If yo u drive at an angle or turn on an incline,
th eve hicle could slip side ways, tip and roll-
ove r. #
Always drive on inclines in the line of fall
(straight up or down) and do not turn. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of /re due to0ammable
materials on hot parts of theex haust sys-
tem
Flammable material such as lea ves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of theex haust system. #
When driving on unpa vedro ads or o.-
ro ad, regula rly ch eck theve hicle under-
side. #
Remo vetrapped plants or other 0amma-
ble material, in particular. #
Ifth ere is damage, consult a quali/ed
specialist workshop immediatel y. When driving o.-
road, sand, mud and water or
wa ter mixed with oil may get into the brakes. This
may lead toare duction in braking e.ect or total
brake failure as a result of increased wear. The
braking characteristics will vary depending on the
material that has entered the system. Clean the
brakes aTer driving o.- road. If youth en notice
re duced braking e.ect or hear scraping noises,
ha ve the brake system checked at a quali/ed spe- 198
198
Driving and parking

ECO start/s
top function symbols in the inst ru-
ment displa y:
R the symbol è(gre en) appears when the
ve hicle is at a standstill: the engine was
switched o. bythe ECO start/s top function.
R the symbol ç(yellow) appears when the
ve hicle is at a standstill: not all vehicle condi-
tions for an engine stop ha vebeen met.
R neither the symbol ènorç appears
when theve hicle is at a standstill: an intelli-
ge nt stop inhibitor was de tected, e.g. a stop
sign.
R the symbol sappears: the ECO start/s top
function is deactivated or there is a malfunc-
tion.
If th e engine was switched o. bythe ECO start/
stop function and you lea vetheve hicle, a warning
to ne sounds and the engine is not restar ted. In
addition, thefo llowing display message appears in
th e inst rument displa y:
Vehicle is operational Switch off ignition before
exiting If
yo u do not switch o. theve hicle, it is automati-
cally switched o. aTer thre e minutes.
Deactiv
Deactiv ating or activ
ating or activ ating t
ating t he EC
he ECO st
O star
art/st
t/st op
op
function
function #
Press button 1.
A display appears in the inst rument cluster
when switching the ECO start/s top function
o./on. %
A continuous sdisplay appears in the
inst rument cluster while the ECO start/s top
function is deactivated. EC
EC
O displa
O displa y function
y function The ECO display summarises
your driving charac-
te ristics from the start of the journey toits com-
pletion and assists you in achieving the most eco-
nomical driving style.
Yo u can in0uence consum ption bydoing thefo l-
lowing:
R driving with particular care.
R driving in drive prog ram ;
R following thege arshiT recommendations. 202 202
Driving and parking

R
Suitable forro ugh terrain, such as steep
and/or une vente rrain or for driving on rocky
te rrain
R Not suitable for use on public roads
% Mer
Mer cedes-Ma
cedes-Ma ybac
ybach v
h vehicles:
ehicles: inthe drive pro-
gr ams F andG, theex tendible running
boa rdsre main retracted or retract if they have
already been extended.
% Depending on the situation, the cylinder can
be brie0y deactivated in the drive pro-
gr ams ; andA, depending on the
engine.
% The ESP ®
settings in the drive prog rams ;
and A are designed for stability. Therefore,
ch oose one of these driving prog rams, espe-
cially when transporting roof loads, in trailer
operation and when theve hicle is fully loaded
or fully occupied.
Depending on the drive prog ram, thefo llowing
systems change their characteristics:
R Drive
- engine and transmission management
- Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC R
ESP ®
R V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit h AIRMA
h AIRMATIC or E‑A
TIC or E‑A CTIVE BOD
CTIVE BOD Y
Y
C
C ONTR
ONTR OL:
OL:
- suspension tuning
- vehicle le vel
R electric po wer steering N No
ot tes on t
es on t he r
he roof load display
oof load display Cer
tain drive prog rams and ESP ®
settings are
unsuitable for transporting a roof load.
If one of these drive prog rams is set or selected,
th eW symbol is shown as a warning. When
th is symbol is shown, the selected drive prog ram
is not suitable for transporting a load on thero of.
The following drive prog rams are a.ected:
R Sport
Sport drive prog ram
R Spor
Spor t +
t +drive prog ram
R Individual
Individual drive program with the ESP ®
setting
Sport or Sport+ %
The symbol is also shown in thefo llowing sit-
uations:
R Within theth emes if a cor responding drive
prog ram is sa ved
Fo r more information on themes see .
R Within there set displ ayifth e pr eviously
active drive prog ram is unsuitable forthe
transport of a roof load
Fo r fur ther information on there set dis-
pla y,see (/ page 207). 206
206
Driving and parking

R
the lateral inclination of theve hicle in
deg rees (°)
R the cur rently achie ved score forth e ongo-
ing trip
R a tip forth e upcoming driving manoeuvre #
T
To st
o st op t
op t he display
he display: :select End trip .
An evaluation of the trip is displa yed. It sho ws
th e achie ved score and a message, forex am-
ple Great job! . A A
ut ut omatic tr
omatic tr ansmission
ansmission DIRECT SELECT lev
DIRECT SELECT lev
er
erF
F
unction of t
unction of t he DIRECT SELECT lev
he DIRECT SELECT lev er
er&
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident due toincor-
re ct gearshiTing
If th e engine speed is higher than the idle
speed and you engage the transmission posi-
tion hork, theve hicle may accelerate
sharpl y. #
Ifyo u engage the transmission position
h ork when theve hicle is at a stand- still, alw
ays depress the brake pedal
/rmly and do not accelerate at the same
time. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident and injury due
to leaving children unattended in theve hi-
cle
If ch ildren are leT unattended in theve hicle,
th ey could, in particular:
R open doors, thereby endangering other
persons or road users.
R get out and be struck byoncoming tra1c.
R operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, forex ample.
In addition, thech ildren could also set the
ve hicle in motion by,fo rex ample:
R releasing the parking brake.
R changing the transmission position.
R starting theve hicle. #
Never lea vechildren unattended in the
ve hicle. #
When leaving theve hicle, alw aysta ke the
ke y with you and lock theve hicle. #
Keep theve hicle key out of there ach of
ch ildren. Use
the DIRECT SELECT le verto switch the trans-
mission position. The cur rent transmission posi-
tion is displa yed in the inst rument displa y. Driving and parking
209
209

R
The transmission position display his sh own
in green.
R V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit h 48 V on-boar
h 48 V on-boar d electr
d electrical syst
ical syst em:
em:
th e combustion engine can be switched o..
All of theve hicle functions remain active.
Glide mode is activated if thefo llowing conditions
are met:
R Drive prog ram ; is selected.
R The speed is within a suitable range.
R The road's cou rse is suitable, e.g. no steep
uphill or downhill inclines or tight bends.
R There is no trailer hitched up tothe trailer
hitch, and no bicycle rack Fitted.
R You do not depress the accelerator or brake
pedal (e xcept for light brake applications).
% Glide mode can also be activated if you ha ve
selected the "Eco" setting forth e drive in the
drive prog ram =.
Glide mode is deactivated again if one of the con-
ditions is no longer met. Glide mode can also be pr
evented bythefo llowing
parame ters:
R Incline
R Downhill gradient
R Temp erature
R Height
R Speed
R Operating status of the engine
R Tra1c situation T T
r
ransf
ansf er case
er case F
F
unction of t
unction of t he tr
he transf
ansfer case
er case &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of skidding and having an
accident when in LOW RANGE on slippery
ro ad sur faces
The wheels can block and thus lose traction
on slippery road sur faces, particular lyin the
fo llowing situations:
R ifyo ure lease the accelerator pedal when
th eve hicle is in motion.
R if o.-road ABS inter venes when braking. #
Never select theLO W RANGE o.- road
ge ar when driving on slippery road sur fa-
ces. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident when the
transfer case is in neutral position
The vehicle may rollawa y unin tentionally if you
do not wait until the transfer case shiT opera-
tion is comple te. Driving and parking
213
213

of
road, weather and tra1c conditions. 4MATIC is
only an aid. You are responsible especially for
maintaining a safe distance from theve hicle in
front, forve hicle speed, for braking in good time
and for st aying in lane.
% In wintry road conditions, the maximum e.ect
of 4MATIC can be achie ved only if you use
winter tyres (M+S tyres), with snow chains if
necessar y. R
R
efuelling
efuelling R
R
efuelling t
efuelling t he v
he vehicle
ehicle &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of /re or explosion from
fuel
Fu els are highly 0ammable. #
Fire , naked 0ames, smoking and creating
spar ksmust be avoided. #
Before refuelling, switch o. theve hicle
and, if /tted, the stationary heater and
ke ep switched o. during /lling. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of injury from fuels
Fu els are poisonous and hazardous toyour
health. #
Do not swallow fuel or let it come into
contact with skin, eyes or clo thing. #
Do not inhale fuel vapour. #
Keep children away from fuel. #
Keep doors and windo wsclosed during
th ere fuelling process.
If yo u or other people come into contact with
fuel, obser vethefo llowing: #
Immediate lyrinse fuel o. your skin with
soap and water. #
If fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical at tention
immedia tely. #
Ifyo u swallow fuel, seek medical atten-
tion immediatel y.Do not induce vomit-
ing. #
Change immediately out of clo thing that
has come into contact with fuel. &
W WARNING
ARNING Risk of /re and explosion due
to electrostatic charge
Electrostatic charge can ignite fuel vapour. #
Before you open the fuel /ller cap or
ta ke hold of the pump nozzle, touch the
me tallic vehicle body. #
Toavo id creating ano ther electrostatic
ch arge , do not get into theve hicle again
during there fuelling process. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of /re from fuel mixture
Ve hicles with a diesel engine:
If yo u mix diesel fuel with petrol, the 0ash
point of the fuel mixture is lo werth an that of
pure diesel fuel.
While theve hicle is running, component parts
in theex haust system may overheat without
wa rning. 216 216
Driving and parking

P
P
ar
ar king
king P
P
ar
ar king t
king t he v
he vehicle
ehicle &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident and injury
caused byan insu1ciently secured vehi-
cle rolling away
If th eve hicle is not securely par ked su1-
cient ly,it can rollawa y in an uncontrolled way
eve n at a slight downhill gradient. #
On uphill or downhill gradients, turn the
front wheels so that theve hicle rolls
to wa rdsth eke rb if it starts moving. #
apply the parking brake. #
Switch the transmission toposition j. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of /re caused byhot
ex haust system parts
Flammable materials such as lea ves, grass or
twigs may ignite. #
Park theve hicle so that no 0ammable
material can come into contact with hot
ve hicle components. #
In particular, do not park on dry grass-
land or har vested grain /elds. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident and injury due
to leaving children unattended in theve hi-
cle
If ch ildren are leT unattended in theve hicle,
th ey could, in particular:
R open doors, thereby endangering other
persons or road users.
R get out and be struck byoncoming tra1c.
R operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, forex ample.
In addition, thech ildren could also set the
ve hicle in motion by,fo rex ample:
R releasing the parking brake.
R changing the transmission position.
R starting theve hicle. #
Never lea vechildren unattended in the
ve hicle. #
When leaving theve hicle, alw aysta ke the
ke y with you and lock theve hicle. #
Keep theve hicle key out of there ach of
ch ildren. *
N
NOOTE
TE Damage totheve hicle due toitro ll-
ing away #
Always secure theve hicle against rolling
awa y. *
N
NO
OTE
TE Damage due totheve hicle lo wering V
V
ehicles wit
ehicles wit h AIRMA
h AIRMATIC or E-A
TIC or E-A CTIVE BOD
CTIVE BOD Y
Y
C
C ONTR
ONTR OL:
OL:The vehicle can lo wer because of
te mp erature di.erences or longer non-opera-
tional times. This can cause damage toparts
of the body. #
When stopping theve hicle and when
driving o., make sure that there are no
obstacles such as curbs under or in the
immediate vicinity of the body. 222
222
Driving and parking

Electr
Electr
ic par
ic parking br
king br ake
ake F
F
unction of t
unction of t he electr
he electric par
ic parking br
king br ak
ake (appl
e (appl ying
ying
aut
aut omaticall
omaticall y)
y) &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident and injury due
to leaving children unattended in theve hi-
cle
If ch ildren are leT unattended in theve hicle,
th ey could, in particular:
R open doors, thereby endangering other
persons or road users.
R get out and be struck byoncoming tra1c.
R operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, forex ample.
In addition, thech ildren could also set the
ve hicle in motion by,fo rex ample:
R releasing the parking brake.
R changing the transmission position.
R starting theve hicle. #
Never lea vechildren unattended in the
ve hicle. #
When leaving theve hicle, alw aysta ke the
ke y with you and lock theve hicle. #
Keep theve hicle key out of there ach of
ch ildren. The electr
The electr
ic par
ic parking br
king br ak
ake is applied if t
e is applied if t he tr
he trans-
ans-
mission is in position
mission is in position j
jand one of t
and one of t he f
he follo
ollowing
wing
conditions is
conditions is ful/lled:
ful/lled:
R The vehicle is switched o..
R The seat belt tongue is not inse rted in the seat
belt buckle of the driver's seat and the driver's
door is opened.
R The transfer case is in the LLO
O W RAN
W RAN GE
GEposi-
tion.
% Toprev ent application: pull the handle of the
electric parking brake (/ page 227).
In t
In t he f
he f ollo
ollowing situations, t
wing situations, t he electr
he electric par
ic parking
king
br
br ak
ak e is also applied:
e is also applied:
R The HOLD function is keeping theve hicle sta-
tionar y.
R Active Parking Assist is keeping theve hicle
stationar y. R
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is bringing
th eve hicle toa standstill.
R In addition, one of t
In addition, one of t he f
he follo
ollowing conditions
wing conditions
mus
mus t be
t be ful/lled:
ful/lled:
- The vehicle is switched o..
- The seat belt tongue is not inse rted in the
seat belt buckle of the driver's seat and
th e driver's door is opened.
- There is a system malfunction.
- The po wer supply is insu1cient.
- The vehicle is stationary for a lengt hy
period.
When the electric parking brake is applied, the
re d! indicator lamp lights up in the inst ru-
ment cluster.
% The electric parking brake is not automatically
applied if theve hicle is switched o. bythe
ECO start/s top function. 226 226
Driving and parking