Driving Systems - Mercedes-Benz GLK 300 4MATIC 2012 Owner's Manual

Observe the warnings for off-road driving
R
( page 170).
Y
Drive slowly.
R
Accelerate gently and make sure that the
R
wheels are gripping.
Avoid high engine speeds, except when
R
driving on sandy and muddy routes with
high driving resistance.
Select a shift range appropriate to the gra-
R
dient.
Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
R
select shift range 1.
Maximum gradient-climbing capability
On good road surfaces, 70% of the maximum
gradient-climbing capability is available.
i
If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS recognises this and brakes the
wheels accordingly. The rear wheel torque
is increased and it is easier to pull away.
Hilltops
When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator immedi-
ately before reaching the brow of the hill.
Make use of the vehicle's own impetus to
travel over the brow.
This style of driving prevents:
the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
R
brow of a hill
the vehicle from travelling too quickly down
R
the other side.
Driving downhill
Drive slowly.
R
Do not drive at an angle down steep
R
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could slip sideways, tip
and overturn.
Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
R
select shift range 1.
Activate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake
R
gently. When doing so, make sure that the
vehicle is facing in the direction of the line
of fall.
Check that the brakes are working normally
R
after a long downhill stretch.
i
Off-road ABS is activated when the off-
road drive program is selected.
At speeds below 30 km/h, the front wheels
lock cyclically during braking. The digging-
in effect achieved in the process reduces
the stopping distance when driving off-
road. The steerability of the vehicle is con-
siderably reduced if the wheels lock.

Driving systems

Cruise control
Important safety notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. You must
select a low gear in good time on long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. On vehicles
with automatic transmission, select shift
range 1, 2 or 3. By doing so, you will make
use of the braking effect of the engine. This
relieves the load on the brake system and
prevents the brakes from overheating and
wearing too quickly.
G WARNING
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 30 km/h.
Driving systems
173
Z