Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: Driving tips
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
► Vehicles for USA: fully depress the accelerator pedal.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on the engine speed.
► Vehicles for Canada: depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on the engine speed.
Rocking the vehicle free
Rocking the vehicle free by shifting back and forth between transmission positions D and R can help to free a vehicle that has become stuck in mud or snow. The engine management system of the vehicle limits shifting back and forth between transmission positions D and R to a maximum speed of 5 mph (9 km/h). To shift back and forth between transmission positions D and R, move the selector lever up and down beyond the pressure point.
Working on the vehicle
WARNING
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and shift the automatic
transmission into park position P. Otherwise
the vehicle could roll away which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal injury.
Trailer towing
► When towing a trailer and driving
downhill,
shift to the lower gear if the automatic
transmission constantly shifts between
two gears.
► Engaging a lower gear and reducing the
speed reduces the risk of the engine
overheating.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the
individual gears automatically when it is in
transmission position D. This automatic
gearshifting behavior is determined by:
• a shift range restrictio ...
Steering wheel paddle shifters
1 Left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter
2 Right-hand steering wheel paddle shifter
You can restrict or derestrict the shift range
by using the steering wheel paddle shifters. ...
See also:
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before starting down a long or steep downgrade.
If the transmission is not shifted down, the brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles can tow in ...
Seat belt maintenance
► To clean the seat belt webbing, apply a
mild soap solution or any solution
recommended for cleaning upholstery
or carpets. Then, wipe with a cloth and
allow the seat belts to dry in th ...
Off-road recovery
If the towing points are to be used for off-road recovery, it is essential that
off-road driver training covering recovery techniques is undertaken.
Further information on off-road driver training ...