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10-29Vehicle care
Vehicles with manual transmission
can also be towed from the front with
all four wheels on the ground. In this
case, the gearshift lever must be in
neutral with the parking brake
released and the key in ignition
switch position ACC, to permit
release of the steering column lock
before towing.
Seek the assistance of a workshop.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye
attachment anti-clockwise and refit
the cover.Towing another vehicleInterior care
Interior and upholstery
Clean the vehicle interior regularly,
including the instrument panel facia,
using Interior/Upholstery Cleaner.
Clean fabric upholstery with a
vacuum cleaner and brush. To
remove stains, use a cleaner that is
suitable for both fabrics and vinyl.
Clean seat belts only with lukewarm
water or Interior/Upholstery Cleaner.
Caution
Never tow the vehicle with the front
wheels on the ground, to avoid
causing damage to the automatic
transmission 3.
Caution
The rear lashing eye is designed for
shipping purposes only.
Towing another vehicle from the
rear is not permitted!
Caution
Open Velcro fasteners on clothing
could damage seat upholstery.
Make sure that Velcro fasteners are
closed.
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10-30 Vehicle care
Exterior care
Locks
The locks are lubricated with a high-
grade lock cylinder grease at the
factory.
Only use de-icing agents in
emergencies, as they have a
degreasing effect and will impair the
function of the locks. After using a
de-icing agent, have the locks
regreased. Seek the assistance of a
workshop.
Washing the vehicle
The paintwork of your vehicle is
exposed to environmental influences,
e.g. continuous changes in weather
conditions, industrial waste gases
and dust or thawing salts, so wash
and wax your vehicle regularly. When
using automatic car washes, select a
program which includes waxing.
Bird droppings, dead insects, resin,
pollen and the like should be cleaned
off immediately, as they contain
aggressive constituents which can
cause paint damage.If using a car wash, comply with the
pertinent instructions of the car wash
manufacturer. The windscreen
wipers and rear window wiper must
be switched off 3 5-2, 5-3. Remove
detachable rod antenna by
unscrewing it.
Do not use high-pressure jet
cleaners.
If you wash your vehicle by hand,
make sure that the insides of the
wings are also thoroughly rinsed out.
Do not use household dishwashing
liquid, to avoid removing wax from the
paintwork.
Clean edges and folds on opened
doors and flaps as well as the areas
they cover.
Thoroughly rinse off and leather-off
the vehicle. Rinse leather frequently.
Use separate leathers for paint and
window surfaces; remnants of wax on
the windows will impair vision.
Also wash aluminium trim parts,
avoiding the use of abrasive
materials such as automotive or chrome polish, steam or caustic
soap. Washing with water is normally
sufficient.
Observe national regulations.
Exterior lamps/lenses
Headlamp and other protective lamp
bezels are made of plastic. If they
require additional cleaning after the
vehicle has been washed, clean them
with Car Shampoo. Do not use any
abrasive or caustic agents, do not
use an ice scraper, and do not clean
them dry.
Waxing
Wax your vehicle regularly, in
particular after it has been washed
using Car Shampoo and at the latest
when water no longer forms beads on
the paintwork, otherwise the
paintwork will dry out.
Also wax aluminium trim parts, edges
and folds on opened doors and flaps
as well as the areas they cover.
Page 131 of 153

10-31Vehicle care
Polishing
Polishing is necessary only if the
paint has become dull or if solid
deposits have become attached to it.
Paintwork polish with silicone forms a
protective film, making waxing
unnecessary.
Plastic body parts should not be
treated with wax and polish.
Use Metallic Paintwork Wax on
vehicles with a metallic-effect paint
finish.
Plastic and rubber parts
For additional cleaning of plastic and
rubber parts, use a cleaner suitable
for vehicle interiors. Do not use any
other agent, and in particular do not
use solvents or petrol.
Windows and wiper blades
When cleaning the heated rear
window, make sure that the heating
element on the inside of the window
is not damaged. Never place stickers
on the inside of the rear window.Use a soft, lint-free cloth or chamois
leather, in conjunction with Window
Cleaning Spray and Insect Remover.
Do not use sharp instruments or
abrasive cleaners.
Windscreen Wash Solvent is suitable
for de-icing windows.
For mechanical removal of ice, use a
commercially available sharp-edged
ice scraper. Press the scraper firmly
against the glass so that no dirt can
get under it and scratch the glass.
Wax, such as that used in car
washes, can cause streaks to form on
the windscreen when the wipers are
used.
Wiper blades can be cleaned with a
soft cloth and Windscreen Wash
Solvent. Do not use abrasive
cleaners.Tyres and wheels
Do not use high-pressure jet cleaners
on wheels and tyres.
Use a pH-neutral wheel cleaning
agent to clean the wheels.Avoid using abrasive materials and
brushes that can damage the finish.
Wheels are painted and can be
treated with the same agents as the
body. For alloy wheels 3, we
recommend the use of Alloy Wheel
Preserver.
Paint damage
Repair small areas of paint damage
such as stone impacts, scratches etc.
before rust can form. If rust has
already formed, have the cause
remedied. Seek the assistance of a
workshop.
Underbody
Your vehicle has a factory-applied
PVC undercoating in the wheel
arches (including the longitudinal
members) which provides permanent
protection and needs no special
maintenance. The surfaces of the
vehicle underbody not covered by
PVC are provided with a durable
protective wax coating in critical
areas.
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10-32 Vehicle care
On vehicles which are washed
frequently in automatic car washes
with underbody washing facility, the
protective wax coating may be
impaired by dirt-dissolving additives.
Check the underbody after washing
and have it waxed if necessary.
Before the start of the cold weather
season, check the PVC coating and
protective wax coating and, if
necessary, have them restored to
perfect condition.
The underbody should be washed
following the end of the cold weather
season to remove any dirt adhering to
the underbody since this may also
contain salt. Check protective wax
coating and, if necessary, have it
restored to perfect condition.
Engine compartment
Areas of the engine compartment that
are painted in the same colour as the
vehicle must be looked after like any
other painted surface.
It is advisable to wash the engine
compartment before and after winter
and preserve it with wax. Cover alternator and fluid reservoirs with
plastic sheets before washing the
engine.
When washing the engine with a
steam-jet cleaner, do not direct the
steam-jet at components of the
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), the air
conditioning system 3 or the belt
drive and its components.
Protective wax that has been applied
is also removed during the engine
wash. For this reason, have the
engine, brake system components in
the engine compartment, axle
components with steering, body parts
and cavities thoroughly preserved
with protective wax after the wash.
An engine wash can be performed in
the spring in order to remove dirt that
has adhered to the engine
compartment, which may also have a
high salt content. Check protective
wax layer and make good if
necessary.
Page 133 of 153

11-1Service and maintenance
Service and
maintenanceScheduled
maintenance
Service intervals
Interim Service
Due every 15,000 km (10,000 miles)
or 1 year, whichever occurs first.
Main Service
Due every 30,000 km (20,000 miles)
or 2 years, whichever occurs first.
The service intervals are based on
average operating conditions. For
severe operating conditions 311-5.
Service interval display 35-14.
Engine oil life monitor 35-14.Confirmations
Confirmation of Service is recorded in
the spaces provided in the Service
and Warranty Booklet. The date and
kilometre/mileage reading is
completed with the stamp and
signature of the Servicing Workshop.
Make sure that the Service and
Warranty Booklet is completed
correctly as continuous proof of
service is essential if any warranty or
goodwill claims are to be met, and is
also a benefit when you come to sell
the vehicle. Scheduled maintenance ....... 11-1
Service schedule .................. 11-2
Additional servicing ............... 11-5
Recommended fluids and
lubricants ............................ 11-5
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11-2 Service and maintenance
Service schedule
⊕Additional operations.o Under extreme operating conditions and if required by country-specific conditions, the intervals are reduced.
Service operations by year 1)
km ( x 1000)1)
miles ( x 1000)1)
1)Whichever occurs first.
1
15
102
30
203
45
304
60
405
75
506
90
60
Controls, lighting, signalling equipment and airbags: visual checkxxxxxx
Remote control batteries: replace every 2 years
Windscreen wipers, windscreen washer system: check, correctxxxxxx
Coolant level and antifreeze: check, correct
Hoses: check for tightness and secure seatingxxxxxx
Coolant: change every 3 years/45,000 km/30,000 miles
Brake fluid level: check, correct x x x
Battery terminals: check for secure connections and battery eyexxxxxx
Pollen filter: replace x x x
oMore often for when dust, sand or pollen is in the air agreement with customer
oAir cleaner element: inspect - petrol engines only xxxxxx
Air cleaner element: replace - petrol and diesel engines x x
⊕Spark plugs: replace every 7 years/105,000 km/70,000 miles
Page 135 of 153

11-3 Service and maintenance
Service operations by year 1)
km ( x 1000)1)
miles ( x 1000)1)
1)Whichever occurs first.⊕Additional operations.o Under extreme operating conditions and if required by country-specific conditions, the intervals are reduced.
1
15
102
30
203
45
304
60
405
75
506
90
60
Ribbed V-belt: visual check - petrol engines only x x
⊕ Replace every 6 years/90,000 km/60,000 miles
Ribbed V-belt and tensioner: visual check - diesel engines only x x x
⊕ Replace every 10 years/150,000 km/100,000 miles
⊕Valve clearances: check, adjust - petrol engines only x x x
Engine oil and oil filter: replace x x x x x x
oDiesel fuel filter: drain water x x x x x x
Diesel fuel filter: replace and bleed x x x
⊕Manual transmission: oil level check, correct x
Oil changexx
Parking brake cable: check, adjust x
Parking brake: check and adjust
Wheel mounting and suspension front and rear, brake lines, brake
pressure hoses, fuel lines, fuel tank and exhaust system: visual checkxxx
Corrosion protection: check and record in Service and Warranty Booklet annually
Front and rear wheel brakes: check visually x x x x x x
Page 136 of 153

11-4 Service and maintenance
⊕Additional operations.o Under extreme operating conditions and if required by country-specific conditions, the intervals are reduced.
Service operations by year 1)
km ( x 1000)1)
miles ( x 1000)1)
1
15
102
30
203
45
304
60
405
75
506
90
60
o⊕Automatic transmission fluid level: check correct x x x
Fluid hose: inspectx
Fluid: change every 165,000 km/110,000 miles
Engine, transmission, A/C compressor: check for leaks x x x x x x
oBrake drum: remove, clean, visual check x
Steering system boots, track rods, final drive: visual check x x
Track rod end and supporting ball joint: check x x x
⊕Brake and clutch fluid: change every 2 years
Wheel fastening: loosen and tighten to torque
Tyre condition and pressures: check, correctxxxxxx
First aid kit: visual check every 2 years
Headlamp aiming: check, adjust x x x
Door hinges, door stop, lock cylinder, lock striker, bonnet catch, tailgate
hinges and check links: lubricate xxx
Test drive, final check
Service interval display and oil life monitor: reset - if applicablexxxxxx
1)Whichever occurs first.