Mercedes-Benz GLS Operator's Manual page 174

Driving tips
172
Before driving off-road, check the wheels and
replace them if necessary.
Checklist after driving off-road
!
If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on normal
roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle.
This allows you to detect damage promptly and
reduce the risk of an accident to yourself and
other road users.
If the Offroad or Offroad Plus drive program
X
is selected: select the Individual, Sport,
Comfort or Slippery drive program
( page 147).
Y
Deactivate the LOW RANGE off-road gear
X
( page 221).
Y
Deactivate DSR (
X
Lower the vehicle level again to a level suita-
X
ble to the road conditions, e.g. to the normal
level.
Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
X
check for damage.
Clean the front and rear license plates.
X
Clean the wheels and tires with a water jet
X
and remove any foreign objects.
Clean the wheels, wheel housings and the
X
vehicle underside with a water jet; check for
any foreign objects and damage.
Check whether twigs or other parts of plants
X
have become trapped. These increase the risk
of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake
hoses or the rubber bellows of the axle joints
and propeller shafts.
After the trip, examine without fail the entire
X
undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes, body-
work structure, steering, chassis and exhaust
system for damage.
After driving for extended periods across
X
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
X
travel, check for foreign objects in the wheels
and drive train and remove them if necessary.
Foreign objects can disturb the balance and
cause vibrations.
page 218).
Y
Driving on sand
Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
R
without Off-Road Engineering package)
( page 219).
Y
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
R
with Off-Road Engineering package)
( page 220).
Y
Select a higher vehicle level.
R
Avoid high engine speeds.
R
Use the left-hand steering wheel paddle
R
shifter to shift to a lower gear appropriate to
the terrain.
Drive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
R
ance. Otherwise the vehicle's wheels could
become stuck in loose ground.
Drive in the tracks of other vehicles if possi-
R
ble. Make sure that:
the tire ruts are not too deep.
-
the sand is sufficiently firm.
-
the ground clearance of the vehicle is suf-
-
ficient.
Tire ruts and gravel roads
!
Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged or
bottom out and get stuck.
Observe the following rules when driving along
ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with loose
gravel:
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
R
without Off-Road Engineering package)
( page 219).
Y
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
R
with Off-Road Engineering package)
( page 220).
Y
Select a higher vehicle level.
R
Avoid high engine speeds.
R
Shift to a lower gear using the left-hand steer-
R
ing wheel paddle shifter.
Drive slowly.
R
Where ruts are too deep, drive with the
R
wheels of one side on the center grassy area,
if possible.