2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV Owners Manual

R
The trailer cables or ada pter plugs ha vebeen
re mo ved.
Multimedia system: 4 © 5
Settings 5
Quick access
Ext
Ext ending t
ending t he ball nec
he ball nec k full
k fully electr
y electr ically
ically #
Select Ü.
The Trailer coupling extending… display mes-
sage will appear on the multifunction displa y.
The ball neck will extend fully electricall y.#
Wait until the ball neck has loc ked in place.
If th e ball neck is not securely loc ked in place, the
Check trailer hitch lock message will appear on
th e multifunction displa y.
R
R e
etr
tr acting t
acting t he ball nec
he ball nec k full
k fully electr
y electr ically
ically #
Select Ü.
The Trailer coupling extending… display mes-
sage will appear on the multifunction displa y.
The ball neck will retract fully electricall y.#
Wait until the ball neck has loc ked in place. If
th e ball neck is not securely loc ked in place, the
Check trailer hitch lock message will appear on
th e multifunction displa y. Coupling up/uncoupling a tr
Coupling up/uncoupling a tr
ailer
ailer &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of injury from theve hicle
le ve l being changed
V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit h lev
h level contr
el contr ol syst
ol system:
em:theve hicle
le ve l may be changed unintentionall y,e.g. by
ot her persons. You may become trapped if you
couple up or uncouple a trailer while theve hi-
cle le vel is changing. In addition, other people
could become trapped if their limbs are
between theve hicle body and the tyres or
underneath theve hicle.
When coupling up or uncoupling a trailer,
make sure that: #
The doors or tailgate are not opened or
closed. #
You do not initiate the le vel control sys-
te m and do not operate theDY NAMIC
SELECT switch. #
Do not lo ckor unlock theve hicle. R R
eq
eq uir
uir ements:
ements:
R The ball neck is extended and engaged in a
securely loc ked position.
R V
Vehicles wit
ehicles wit h lev
h level contr
el contr ol:
ol:ensure theve hicle
is at the normal le vel (/ page 269).
Use the normal le vel in trailer operation. High
le ve l driving is not permitted in trailer opera-
tion on public roads.
Tr ailers with a 7-pin plug can be connected tothe
ve hicle with thefo llowing adap ters:
R Adapter plug
R Adapter cable
The trailer will be cor rectly de tected bytheve hi-
cle only if thefo llowing conditions are met:
R The trailer is connected cor rectl y.
R The trailer lighting system is in working order.
The functions of thefo llowing systems will be
a.ec tedbya cor rectly connected trailer:
R ESP ®
trailer stabilisation 302
302
Driving and parking

R
Trailer Manoeuv ring Assist
R Active Lane Keeping Assist
R Parking Assist PARKTRONIC
R Active Parking Assist
R Blind Spot Assist or Active Blind Spot Assist
R Drive Away Assist
R Cross Tra1c Ale rt
R Reversing camera
R 360° camera
R AIRMATIC
R E-AC TIVE BODY CONTROL
Coupling up a tr Coupling up a tr ailer ailer
* NO
NOTE
TEDamage tothe star ter battery due
to full dis charge Charging
the trailer battery using the po wer
supply of the trailer can damage the star ter
batter y. #
Do not use theve hicle's po wer supply to
ch arge the trailer batter y. #
Remo vethe co ver cap from the ball head and
store it in a safe place. #
Position the trailer on a le vel sur face behind
th eve hicle and couple it up totheve hicle. #
Open the soc ket cap. #
Inse rtthe plug with lug 1ingroo ve 3 on
th e soc ket. #
Turn bayonet coupling 2totheright as far as
it will go. #
Let the cap engage. #
Secure the cable tothe trailer with cable ties
(only if you are using an adap ter cable). #
Make sure that the cable is alw ays slack for
ease of mo vement during cornering.
Under thefo llowing conditions, a message may
appear on the inst rument display even if the
trailer has been connec ted cor rectl y:
R LEDs ha vebeen ins talled in the trailer lighting
system.
R The cur rent has fallen below the trailer lighting
system's minimum cur rent (50 mA).
% Accessories can be connected tothe perma-
nent po wer supply up to180 W and tothe
po we r supply that is switched on via the igni-
tion loc k.
U
U ncoupling a tr
ncoupling a tr ailer
ailer &
W
WARNI NG
ARNI NGRisk of being crushed and
becoming trapped when uncoupling a
trailer
When uncoupling a trailer with an engaged
inertia-activated brake, your hand may
become trapped between theve hicle and the
trailer dr awbar. Driving and parking
303 303

#
Do not uncouple trailers with an engaged
ove rrun brake. *
N
NOOTE
TE Damage when uncoupling in a state
of ove rrun Uncoupling in a state of
overrun can damage
th eve hicle. #
Do not uncouple trailers with an engaged
ove rrun brake. &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of becoming trapped when
disconnecting the trailer cable
V
V ehicles wit
ehicles wit h lev
h level contr
el contr ol syst
ol system:
em:Thevehicle
may lo wer when the trailer cable is disconnec-
te d.
This could result in you or other people
becoming trapped if your or their limbs are
between theve hicle body and the tyres or
underneath theve hicle. #
Make sure that nobody is underneath the
ve hicle or in the immediate vicinity of the wheel ar
ches when you disconnect the
trailer cable. *
N
NOOTE
TE Damage tothere ar bumper from
ins talling adap ter cables or adap ter plugs The
following parts could be damaged when
swiveling the ball neck fully electricall y:
R Bumper
R Adapter cable
R Adapter plug #
Alwaysre mo vethe adap ter cable or
adap ter plug before swiveling the ball
neck fully electricall y. #
Secure the trailer against rolling away. #
Disconnect the electrical connection between
th eve hicle and the trailer. #
Uncouple the trailer. #
Place the co ver cap on the ball head.
% T
Tr
railer
ailer s wit
s wit h LED lighting:
h LED lighting: aTer uncoupling the
traile r,switch theve hicle on and then o.
again. Bicy
Bicy
cle r
cle r ac
ack function
k function &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of an accident if the bicy-
cle rack is used incor rectly
The bicycle rack may become de tach ed from
th eve hicle in thefo llowing cases:
R the permissible load capacity of the trailer
hitch is exceeded.
R the bicycle rack is used incor rectl y.
R the bicycle rack is secured tothe ball neck
beneath the ball head.
Obser vethefo llowing foryo ur ow n sa fety and
th at of other road users:
R always adhere tothe permissible load
capacity of the trailer hitch.
R always obser vethe permissible rear axle
load of theto wing vehicle.
R use the bicycle rack only totransport bicy-
cles. 304
304
Driving and parking

R
always mount the bicycle rack proper lyby
attaching tothe ball head and the ball
neck guide pin, if possible.
R when transporting four bicycles, alw ays
use bicycle rack s which ha veadditional
support on the ball neck guide pin.
R use only bicycle rack s appr oved by
Mercedes-Benz.
R always obser vethe bicycle rack operating
instructions. *
N NOOTE TE Damage to, or crac kson, the trailer
hitch due tounsuitable bicycle rack s or
bicycle rack s being used inco rrectly #
use only bicycle rack s appr ovedby
Mercedes-Benz. *
N
NO OTE
TE Increased risk of damage toprop-
erty due tofolded-out ball neck #
When the trailer is not coupled or the
bicycle rack is attached, fold in the ball neck or, in
the case of a fully electric
trailer hitch, retract the ball nec k. Tr
ailer hitch (example with additional guide pin)
Depending on the bicycle rack 's design, di.erent
numbers of bicycles can be transpor ted. The
following bicycle rack designs are possible:
R When mounted byattaching toball head 1,
th e maximum load capacity is 75 kg. You can
transport up tothre e bicycles.
R When mounted on ball head 1and guide pin
2, the maximum load capacity is 100 kg. Yo u
can transport up tofour bicycles.
The maximum load capacity is calculate d fromthe
we ight of the bicycle rack and the bicycle rack
load.
Obser vethe no tes on driving with a roof load,
trailer or fully laden vehicle (/ page 195).
When using a bicycle rack , set the tyre pressure
fo r increased load on there ar axle of theve hicle.
Fu rther information on the tyre pressure can be
fo und in the tyre pressure table (/ page 402).
N
No ot tes on loading
es on loading
The lar gerth e distance between the load's centre
of grav ity and the ball head, thegr eater the load
on the trailer hitch. Driving and parking
305
305

Obser
vethefo llowing no tes:
R mount heavy bicycles as close totheve hicle
as possible
R always distribute the load on the bicycle rack
as evenly as possible across theve hicle's lon-
gitudinal axis
Mercedes-Benz recommends removing all de tach-
able parts from bicycles (e.g. bask ets, ch ild seats,
re ch arge able batteries) before loading them onto
th e bicycle rack . This will impr oveth e aerody-
namic resis tance and centre of grav ity of the bicy-
cle rack.
Alw ays secure the bicycles topreve ntthem from
moving around and check them at regular inter-
va ls to ensure that they are secure.
Do not use tarp aulins or other co vers. The driving
ch aracteristics and rear view may be impaired. In
addition, aerodynamic resis tance and the load on
th e trailer hitch will increase. Load distribution on
the bicycle rack
1 Vertical distance between centre of grav ity
and ball head
2 Horizontal distance between centre of grav ity
and ball head
3 The centre of grav ity is on theve hicle's cent re
axis
Obser vethefo llowing information when loading
th e bicycle rack: Loading t Loading t
he bicy he bicycle r
cle rack
ack 3 bicy
3 bicy
cles
cles 4 bicy
4 bicycles
cles
To talwe ight of
bicycle rack and
load Up
to75 kg Up to100 kg
Max. distance
1 420 mm 420 mm
Max. distance
2 300 mm 400 mm When transporting
four bicycles or a tota lwe ight
between 75 kg and 100 kg, alw ays use bicycle
ra ck s with additional support on the trailer hitch
guide pin. V V
ehicle to
ehicle towing ins
wing ins tr
tructions
uctions
The vehicle is not suitable forth e use of tow bar
systems that are used for 0at towing or dinghy
to wing, forex ample. Attach ing and using tow bar
systems can result in damage totheve hicle.
When you are towing a vehicle with tow bar sys-
te ms, safe driving characteristics cann otbe guar- 306
306
Driving and parking

anteed
forth eto wing vehicle or theto we dve hicle.
The vehicle-trailer combination may swer vefrom
side toside.
Obser vethefo llowing information:
R Perm itted towing me thods (/ page 393)
R The no tes on towing theve hicle with bo th
axles on thegr ound (/ page 394) Driving and parking
307
307

N
N
o
ot
tes on t
es on t he ins
he instrtrument displa
ument displa y and on-board
y and on-board
com
com put
puter
er &
W
WARNING
ARNING Risk of accident if the inst ru-
ment display fails
If th e inst rument display has failed or is mal-
functioning, function restrictions in systems
re leva nt tosaf ety cann otbe de tected.
The operating saf ety of your vehicle may be
impaired. #
Drive on carefull y.#
Have theve hicle checked immediately at
a qu ali/ed specialist workshop. If
th e operating saf ety of your vehicle is impaired,
park theve hicle immediately and safel y.Contact a
qu ali/ed specialist workshop. &
W WARNING ARNING Risk of distraction due toinfor-
mation systems and communications
equipment
If yo u operate information systems and com-
munications equipment integ rated in theve hi- cle when driving,
you could be distracted from
th e tra1c situation. This could also cause you
to lose control of theve hicle. #
Only operate this equipment when the
tra1c situation pe rmits. #
Ifyo u cannot be sure of this, stop the
ve hicle in accordance with the tra1c
conditions and operate the equipment
with theve hicle stationar y. *
N NO
OTE
TE Mercedes-AMG vehicles #
Obser vethe no tes in the Supplement.
Yo u could otherwise failto recognise
dangers. Yo
u must obser vethe legal requ irements forthe
count ryin which you are cur rently driving when
ope rating the on-board computer.
The on-board computer sho wsonly display mes-
sages and warnings from speci/c systems on the
inst rument displa y.Yo u must therefore ensure
th at your vehicle is alw aysre liable. If
th e operating saf ety of your vehicle is impaired,
park theve hicle immediately and in accordance
with the tra1c conditions. Contact a quali/ed
specialist workshop. 308
308
Instrument display and on-board computer

Ov
Ov
er
ervie
vie w of ins
w of ins tr
trument display
ument display 1
Display content on leT (e xample: speedome-
te r): speedome ter / time / date / trip com-
puter From start andFrom reset /range /
audio / angle of incline and app roach/depar-
ture
The segments on the speedome ter indicate
th e statuses of thefo llowing systems: cruise control/limiter/Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC
2 Outside temp erature
3 Digital speedome ter
4 Time
5 Display content on right (e xample:tach ome-
te r): tach ome ter / average fuel consump-
tion / ECO display / navigation / G-me ter / assistant display / 4MATIC / suspension /
po
we r me ter / po werav ailability displ ayof
th e electric mo tor (equipment-dependent)
The fuel supply will be inter rupted toprotect
th e engine when there d mark on therev
counter (o verrev ving range) is reached.
6 Index points Instrument displ
ayand on-board computer
309 309