Trailer towing201
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Where possible, operate the trailer with the maximum permitted
draw bar
weight on the ball joint of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the specified
limit.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressures on your car, and adjust for “full load” conditions
(refer to the sticker listing the tyre pressures on the door pillar). It may also be
necessary to adjust the tyre pressures on the trailer according to the recom-
mendations of the trailer manufacturer.
Exterior mirrors
Check whether you can see enough of the road behind the trailer with the
standard mirrors. If this is not the case you should have additional mirrors
fitted. The two exterior mirrors should be fitted on folding arms. Adjust the
mirrors to give sufficient rear vision.
Headlights
Before starting a journey, check the headlight beam settings with the trailer
hitched up. If necessary, alter the height of the headlight beams by means of
the headlight range control. See ⇒page 120.
Power supply
When you remove the ignition key, the power supply to the trailer is inter-
rupted.
Removable ball joint coupling
Vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket are equipped with a removable
ball joint coupling. This is stored in the spare wheel well in the luggage
compartment together with the necessary fitting instructions.
Note
If you frequently tow, we recommend you also have vehicle ser viced between
services.
Notes on towing
Towing a trailer involves additional attention by the driver.Weight distribution
The weight distribution of a loaded trailer with an unladen vehicle is very
unfavourable. However, if this cannot be avoided, drive extra slowly to allow
for the unbalanced weight distribution.
Speed
The stability of the car and trailer is reduced with increasing speed. Therefore,
it is advisable not to drive at the maximum permissible speed in an unfavour-
able road, weather or wind conditions. This especially applies when driving
downhill.
You should always reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying . Never try to stop the “snaking” by increasing speed.
Anticipate hazards and brake in good time. If towing a trailer with an inertia
brake , first brake gently and then more severely. This will prevent brake
tapping by the trailer wheels when they lock. Select a low gear in due course
before going down a steep downhill. This enables you to use the engine
braking to slow down the vehicle.
Swaying and pitching can be reduced by stabiliser aids. We recommend
having stabiliser aids installed when towing trailers with a high trailer load.
They can be purchased and installed at a Dealer.
Reheating
When climbing long hills in hot weather with the engine running fast in low
gear, you should keep an eye on the coolant temperature gauge ⇒page 60.
Reduce speed immediately if the needle moves to the right end of the scale.
If the temperature warning light
in the instrument cluster should start
flashing, stop the car and let the engine cool down by running it at idling
speed for a few minutes.
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If and when265
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
WARNING
•Take particular care when working on components in the engine
compartment if the engine is warm - risk of burns!•Bulbs are highly sensitive to pressure. The glass can break when you
touch the bulb, causing injury.•The high voltage element of gas discharge lamps* (xenon light) must
be handled correctly. Otherwise, there is a risk of death.•When changing bulbs, please take care not to injure yourself on sharp
parts in the headlight housing.Caution
•Remove the ignition key before working on the electric system. If not, a
short circuit could occur.•Switch off the lights or parking lights before you change a bulb.For the sake of the environment
Please ask your specialist retailer how to dispose of used bulbs in the proper
manner.
Note
•Depending on weather conditions (cold or wet), the front lights, the fog
lights, the rear lights and the indicators may be temporarily misted. This does not affect the useful life of the lighting system. By switching on the lights, the
area through which the beam of light is projected will quickly be demisted.
However, the edges may continue to be misted.
•Please check at regular intervals that all lighting (especially the exterior
lighting) on your vehicle is functioning pr operly. This is not only in the interest
of your own safety, but also in that of all other road users.•Before changing a bulb, make sure you have the correct new bulb.•Do not touch the glass part of the bulb with your bare hands, use a cloth
or paper towel instead. Otherwise, the fingerprints left on the glass will
vaporise as a result of the heat generated by the bulb, be deposited on the
reflector and impair its surface.Removing the air duct
The air duct has to be removed to gain access to the bulbs for
the right-side headlight.
Bulb
Type
Dipped-beam headlights (halogen)
12 V/55 W (H7 LL)
Main beam headlights
12 V/55 W (H1)
Indicator light
12 V/21 W (PY21W)
Side lights
12 V/5 W (W5W LL)
Fig. 204 Air duct on right
side of vehicle
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If and when
272
WARNING
•Take particular care when working on components in the engine
compartment if the engine is warm - risk of burns!•Bulbs are highly sensitive to pressure. The glass can break when you
touch the bulb, causing injury.•The high voltage element of gas discharge lamps* (xenon light) must
be handled correctly. Otherwise, there is a risk of death.•When changing bulbs, please take care not to injure yourself on sharp
parts in the headlight housing.Caution
•Remove the ignition key before working on the electric system. If not, a
short circuit could occur.•Switch off the lights or parking lights before you change a bulb.For the sake of the environment
Please ask your specialist retailer how to dispose of used bulbs in the proper
manner.
Note
•Depending on weather conditions (cold or wet), the front lights, the fog
lights, the rear lights and the indicators may be temporarily misted. This does not affect the useful life of the lighting system. By switching on the lights, the
area through which the beam of light is projected will quickly be demisted.
However, the edges may continue to be misted.
•Please check at regular intervals that all lighting (especially the exterior
lighting) on your vehicle is functioning properly. This is not only in the interest
of your own safety, but also in that of all other road users.•Before changing a bulb, make sure you have the correct new bulb.•Do not touch the glass part of the bulb with your bare hands, use a cloth
or paper towel instead. Otherwise, the fingerprints left on the glass will
vaporise as a result of the heat generated by the bulb, be deposited on the
reflector and impair its surface.Removing the air duct
The air duct has to be removed to gain access to the bulbs for
the right-side headlight.
Bulb
Type
Xenon bulbs
12 V/35 W (D1S)
DRL (day light)
12 V/21 W (P21W SLL)
Indicator light
12 V/21 W (PY21W)
Side lights
12 V/5 W (W5W blue LL)
Fig. 216 Air duct on right
side of vehicle
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