Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: Automatic car wash - Exterior care - Care - Maintenance and care - Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Owner's ManualMercedes-Benz GL-Class: Automatic car wash

WARNING Braking efficiency is reduced after washing 
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing the vehicle. This could cause an accident. For this reason, you must drive particularly carefully after washing the vehicle until the brakes have dried.

You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car wash from the very start.

Automatic Car Wash as these use special Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless Automatic Car Wash as these use special cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can damage the paintwork or plastic parts.

If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before cleaning it in an automatic car wash.

make sure that the automatic transmission In car washes with a towing mechanism, make sure that the automatic transmission is in transmission position N, otherwise the vehicle could be damaged.

Vehicles with a SmartKey:

Do not remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock. Do not open the driver's door or front-passenger door when the engine is switched off. Otherwise, the automatic transmission selects park position P automatically and locks the wheels. You can prevent this by shifting the automatic transmission to N beforehand.

Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO:

Do not open the driver's door or frontpassenger door when the engine is switched off. Otherwise, the automatic transmission selects park position P automatically and locks the wheels.

Observe the following to make sure that the automatic transmission stays in position N:

Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the ignition is switched off.
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition lock.
Use the SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
Depress and hold the brake pedal.
Shift the automatic transmission to position N.
Release the brake pedal.
Release the parking brake.
Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey in the ignition lock.

Make sure that:

the side windows and the sliding sunroof are fully closed.
the ventilation/heating is switched off (the OFF button has been pressed).
the windshield wiper switch is in position 0.

Otherwise, the vehicle might be damaged.

After using an automatic car wash, wipe off wax from the windshield and the wiper blades. This will prevent smears and reduce wiping noises caused by residue on the windshield.

    Washing by hand
    Carefully remove all deposits of road salt as soon as possible when driving in winter. Also, clean the insides of the wheels when washing the underbody of the vehicle. ► Do not use hot wat ...

    See also:

    Tire Pressure Monitor
    This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). The TPMS warning light alerts you to a significant loss in pressure of one of the vehicle's tires. If the warning light comes on, s ...

    Exterior front
    1. Hood (P.3-18) 2. Windshield wiper and washer — Switch operation (P.2-33) — Rain-sensing auto wiper system (P.2-34) — Wiper blade replacement (P.8-20) — Window washer fluid (P. ...

    Engine block heater (if so equipped)
    Engine block heaters are used to assist in cold temperature starting. The engine block heater should be used when the outside temperature is 208F (−78C) or lower. To use the engine bloc ...