Off-Road Fording; Operation; Winter Operation; Winter Tires - Mercedes-Benz 2011 GL-Class Operator's Manual

Off-road fording

Fording depth
:
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC
package
Raised level
Vehicles with the Off-Road
Pro engineering package
Off-road level 3
Off-road level 2
Off-road level 1
Establish how deep the water is and the
R
characteristics of the body of water before
fording.
Select the highest possible vehicle level.
R
Select the off-road drive program
R
Y
( page 204) or the LOW RANGE off-road
Y
gear ( page 157).
Select the off-road drive program
R
( Y page 204).
Restrict the shift range to 1 or 2.
R
Avoid high engine speeds.
R
Enter and exit the water at a flat place and
R
at a steady walking pace.
! Under no circumstances should you
accelerate before entering the water. The
bow wave could cause water to enter and
damage the engine and other assemblies.
Drive slowly and at an even speed through
R
the water.
Do not stop.
R
!
Do not open any of the vehicle's doors
while fording. Otherwise, water could get
into the vehicle interior and damage the
vehicle's electronics and interior
equipment.
Water offers a high degree of resistance,
R
Fording
and the ground is slippery and in some
depth
cases unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and
dangerous to pull away in the water.
Ensure that a bow wave does not form as
R
you drive.
20 in.
Clean any mud from the tire tread after
R
(50 cm)
fording.
Apply the brakes to dry them after fording.
R
20 in.
Winter driving
(50 cm)
Important safety notes
20 in.
(50 cm)
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at an authorized
23.6 in.
Mercedes-Benz Center, at the onset of
(60 cm)
winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (
i Vehicles with a diesel engine: do not
cover the radiator, e.g. with a protective
cover. The measuring function of the
Onboard Diagnosis System may otherwise
provide inaccurate values. Some of these
values are required by law and must
therefore always be accurate.

Winter tires

Use winter tires at temperatures below
45 ‡ (7 †) and on snow or ice-covered roads.
Only winter tires also bearing the i
Driving tips
Y page 173).
171
Z