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Avoid driving short distances Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption.– Avoid driving a distance of no more
than 4 km if the engine is cold.
The engine and catalytic converter mu
st first have reached their optimal
operating
temperature
in order to effectively reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.
The cold engine vehicle consumes approx. 15 - 20 litres/100 km of fuel immediately after starting. Fuel consumption drops to 10
litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The
engine reaches its operating temperat
ure (outside temperature and engine
dependent) only after about
4 to 10
kilometres and the fuel
consumption then stabi-
lizes. You should therefore avoid driving short distances whenever possible. An important factor in this connection is also the
ambient temperature
⇒fig. 161
. It
shows the fuel consumption after driving a
certain distance, on the one hand at a
temperature of +20°C and on the other hand
at a temperature of -10°C. Your vehicle
has a higher fuel consumption in winter than in summer.Checking tyre inflation pressures Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.Always ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure at all times. The rolling resistance will be increased if the tyre filling pressure is too low. This will not only increase fuel consumption but also tyre we
ar and the driving behaviour will worsen.
Always check the inflation pr
essure of the tyres when
cold
.
Do not drive with
winter tyres
all year round for this costs about 10 % more fuel. They
are also louder and have poorer handling
characteristics and higher wear at tempera-
tures more than 10°C.No unnecessary ballast Transporting ballast costs fuel.The fact that every kilogram of extra
weight
increases your fuel consumption means
that it is worth taking a look in the luggage compartment to avoid transporting any unnecessary ballast. It is particularly in town traffic, when on
e is accelerating quite often, that the vehicle
weight will have a significant effect upon th
e fuel consumption. A rule of thumb here
is that an increase in weight of 100 kilogr
ams will cause an increase in fuel consump-
tion of about 1 litre/100 kilometres. You may frequently also leave a
roof rack fitted
on just out of convenience, although
you no longer need it. The in
creased aerodynamic drag of yo
ur vehicle causes it to use
about 10% more fuel than normal at a speed of 100 - 120 km/h, even when you are not carrying a load on the roof.Saving electricity Generating electricity costs fuel.– Switch off electrical components as
soon as you no longer need them.
When the engine is running,
the alternator generates and
supplies electrical power.
The greater the load on the alternator as a result of having a large number of electrical components switched on, the more fuel
will be consumed for operating the
alternator.Keeping a log of your fuel consumptionIf you really wish to keep a close check on your
fuel consumption
, it is best to enter
the figures in a logbook. This does not take much time but is a very worthwhile exer- cise. It enables you to detect any change (p
ositive and negative) at an early stage and
to take any appropriate action.
Fig. 161 Fuel consumption in litres/100 km at different temperatures
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HeadlightThe low beam of your headlights is set asymmetrically. It illuminates the side of the road on which you are driving to a greater ex
tent. If you drive abroad on the other side
of the road, you will
dazzle oncoming traffic.
In order to prevent the dazzling of oncoming traffic, it is necessary that an adjustment of the headlights is carried out by a specialist garage. The adaptation of the headlights with Xenon
lights* (applies only to
vehicles which are
designed for driving on the right and on the left) is performed in the menu
Setup
Tr a v e l m o d e
in the main menu of the Information display*
⇒page 24.
Note
You can obtain further information regarding masking over the headlights from a specialist garage.Avoiding damage to your vehicleWhen driving on poor roads and lanes or
when driving over kerbstones, steep ramps
etc., you must pay particular attention to
ensuring that any low-slung parts of the
vehicle, such as spoiler and exhaust,
do not touch the ground and get damaged.
This particularly applies to
models with a lowered suspen
sion (sport suspension) and
also when your vehicle is fully laden.Driving through bodies of water on roads
In order to avoid damage to the vehicle wh
en driving through bodies of water (e.g.
flooded roads), observe the following:•
Determine the depth of the water when driv
ing through bodies of water. The water
can reach at the maximum the web on the lower sill of the vehicle
⇒fig. 162
.
•
Drive no more than at walking speed. At a higher speed, a water wave can form in
front of the vehicle which can cause water to
penetrate into the air induction system of
the engine or into other parts of the vehicle.•
Never let the vehicle stand in the water,
never drive backwards and do not switch
off the engine.
WARNING
•
Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance - risk of accident!•
Avoid sudden and severe braking manoeuvres immediately after driving
through bodies of water.•
After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and dried
as soon as possible by intermittent braking. Only apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake
discs if the traffic conditions permit
this. Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
Caution
•
When driving through bodies of water, pa
rts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, catalytic converter, chassis
or electrics can be severely damaged.
•
Oncoming vehicles can gene
rate water waves which ca
n exceed the permissible
water level for your vehicle.•
Potholes, mud or rocks can be
hidden under the water making it difficult or impos-
sible to drive through the body of water.•
Do not drive through salt water. The salt
can lead to corrosion. Immediately rinse
all the parts of the vehicle, which came into
contact with the salt water, with fresh
water.
Fig. 162 Crossing bodies of water
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WARNING
•
In the event of a vehicle rollover, an occupant of the vehicle who is not
wearing a seat belt is exposed to a clearl
y higher risk of injury compared to an
occupant who is wearing a seat belt.•
Luggage and other items, which are transp
orted on the roof of the vehicle,
additionally raise the centre of gravity and thus increase the risk of a rollover.•
Avoid driving at an
angle on a hillside
⇒page 186.
•
Observe the important guidelines
⇒page 180.
Important informationOff-road driving is not suitable for everyone. Small children, expectant mothers and elderly or physically disabled persons are part
icularly at risk if the ride is rough and
help is far away. The first priority
should always be
safety
.
Never overestimate your own
capabilities and never underestimate the difficulties of
driving off-road. We cannot discuss all the possible driving situations in this manual, because there are so many types of terrains which may hide different risks and dangers. The examples listed in this manual are general rules for
safe off-road driving. It is however not
possible to predict if these rules are valid for all the situations which may occur. Before driving through unknown terrain, it is ther
efore important that you know what lies
ahead of you. This way you can estima
te any possible danger in advance.
For the sake of the environment
When driving off-road, show respect and
appreciation for the environment and its
preservation for future generations.Before driving off-road for the first timeBefore driving off-road, we recommend that
you take part in an Off-road driver
training course. This is especial
l y i m p o r t a n t i f y o u h a v e l i t t l e o r n o e x p e r i e n c e o f d r i v i n g
off-road. In a driver training
course, you learn how to use th
e vehicle in many different
off-road situations and how to handle the
vehicle safely when driving through rough
terrain. Driving off-road requires entirely different skills from the driver and a very different behaviour than driving on the road. Your pers
onal safety and that of your passengers
depend on you, your capabili
ties and your cautiousness.
Do not drive off-road where it is not suitable for your vehicle or where the demands on you are too high. Although your vehicle
can handle off-road driving, it is not
designed for travels with expedition characteristics. Before each journey off-road, make sure th
at the vehicle is appr
opriately equipped for
the planned journey
⇒page 182. The standard equipment of your vehicle may not be
sufficient for your journey. With the standa
rd tyres you can drive with your off-road
vehicle through easy terrain, such as flat forest roads, meadows and fields. Please note however, that driving the vehicle on a diffic
ult, muddy and sandy gr
ound is restricted
and that the traction of the standard tyres is
reduced when driving off-road. If you have
planned prolonged or difficult
off-road trips, we reco
mmend that you equip your
vehicle with suitable off-road tyres.
WARNING
Observe the important guidelines
⇒page 180.
Rules of conduct for responsible off-road drivingObserve the valid national legal requirements when driving off-road.
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Driving and the Environment
182
Explanation of technical termsFig. 163 Embankment angle / slope angle Fig. 164 Ground clearance / ramp angleThe technical data
⇒page 245, “Angle (in degree)” refer to ideal conditions. These
values may differ depending on the load an
d composition of the soil and the environ-
ment. The driver is responsible to decide whether a vehicle can overcome a certain situation. Embankment angle (front and rear) Transition from the horizontal plane to an
upward slope or from a downward slope
back to the plane. The angle indication determines the angle at which you can drive the vehicle down the embankment, at a slow speed, without the bumper or the under-body of the vehicle touching the ground. Slope angle The difference of altitude (upward slope) which is overcome on a stretch of road of 100 m, is indicated in percentage or degrees, i.e. the gradiant at which the vehicle can climb
a hill on its own (among other things, depe
nding on the road surface and the engine
power). Ground clearance The distance between the road surface and the deepest point of the vehicle under- body. Ramp angle The angle indication determines the angle
at which you can driv
e the vehicle over a
ramp, at a slow speed, without the underbody of the vehicle touching the ramp edge.
WARNING
When exceeding the maximum value given in the table
⇒page 245, “Angle (in
degree)”, this can result in serious injuries and/or vehicle damage. All of the data was determined on flat, firm and non-slip road surfaces as well as under dry weather conditions. There are no id
eal off-road conditions. Therefore,
never completely go according to th
e maximum values, but always leave a
safety margin.Useful utensilsMany items can be very useful wh
en driving off-road, for example:
•
compass and maps,
•
torch and spare batteries,
•
mobile phone or CB radio,
•
tow bar or tow rope with sufficient tear strength,
•
electrically driven tyre pump for connect
ing to the 12-volt power outlet of the
vehicle,•
a blanket and rubber boots,
•
snow chains,
•
a timber plank which is approximately 4 cm thick and about 1 metre long can be
used as a traction aid when the vehicle is stuck or as a base for the lifting jack,•
additional tools and a folding
yardstick or a measuring tape,
•
spare wheel and tyre repair kit,
AA
AB
AC
AD
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Technical Data
•
shovel.
Safe off-road drivingAdopt a correct seated position and always fa
sten the seat belt correctly. Make sure
that your front passenger and your passengers
seated on the rear seats always fasten
their seat belts correctly. When driving off-road, it is perhaps more useful to adopt a slightly different seated position. Depending on the terrain, an incr
eased force may be required to turn the
steering wheel because the force is transferred from the front wheels to the steering wheel. You must be seated in such a way that you have good front visibility, especially when driving uphill or dow
nhill. You must never be seat
ed in such a way that the
distance between your chest and the midd
le of the airbag cover is less than
25 cm
⇒ page 148. Under no circumstances must you drive off-ro
ad with high heels,
slippery or open
shoes. You should wear shoes which fit your fe
et well and allow you to get a feel for the
pedals.
WARNING
Observe the important guidelines
⇒page 180.
Before driving off-road•
Make sure the tyres are suitable for the planned off-road journey. Before you drive
through difficult terrai
n, equip your vehicle with off-road tyres.
•
Fill up your tank. The fuel consumption of
the vehicle is much higher when driving
off-road than when driving on the road.•
Install the towing eye at the front or at the rear before driving off-road. It is not
always possible to install the towing eye if the vehicle got stuck.•
Always check the inflation pressure of a
ll the tyres and if necessary correct it.
•
Check the vehicle tool kit and suppl
ement it according to your needs.
•
Fill with engine oil up to the line , so that the engine is sufficiently supplied with
engine oil when the vehicle is in a tilted position
⇒page 205, “Check engine oil level”.
•
Top up wash fluid.
•
Stow your load as low as possible in the vehicle and attach all the items which are
loose.Off-road driving•
Never be alone when driving off-road and be prepared to encounter unexpected
situations. Travel together with at least two off-road vehicles. Equipment with which you can call for help in an em
ergency is partic
ularly useful.
•
Drive slowly through unclear terrain.
•
You must stop when encountering difficul
t passages and explore the continuation
of the route on foot. If you cannot go on or
if you doubt the safety of the route, turn
back and choose another way.•
Drive slowly over hilltops. Make sure that
the wheels of the vehicle do not lift off
the ground, as this could severely damage
the vehicle and it may become disabled.
•
Drive slowly on difficult stretches of the route. When driving on a slippery ground,
shift up into the next higher gear and make
sure that the vehicle always stays in motion.
Do not drive too fast so that you don't lose control over your vehicle.•
If your vehicle got stuck in
sand, snow or sludge, it may be more effective to reverse
the vehicle than trying to drive forwards.•
Place stones, footmats or pieces of wood
under the spinning wheels in order to
achieve traction on a sandy or slippery ground.•
Do no drive through water before reading what you must take into account
⇒ page 179.•
Keep sufficient distance from other vehicles even at low speeds. When the first
vehicle suddenly gets stuck, the following vehi
cle can still stop in time without getting
stuck itself.•
Do not plan day trips which are too far in distance.
•
Do not use the cruise control system when
driving off-road. It is only intended for
driving on the road.
WARNING
•
The intelligent engineering of your ve
hicle cannot overco
me the physical
limits of your vehicle.
AA
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–Switch on the Off-road mode
⇒page 170.
– Drive at walking speed over rocky passages. – If it is not possible to drive around a ston
e, gently drive onto
the stone with one of
the front wheels and then drive over it slowly.
WARNING
Observe the important guidelines
⇒page 180.
Caution
•
On no account drive over large objects (suc
h as pieces of rock
or tree stumps),
neither in the middle nor on one side. When driving over objects which are larger than the ground clearance, the chassis and its
components can get da
maged. Your vehicle
could break down far away from any assistance.•
Even objects that are smaller than the ex
isting ground clearance can come into
contact with the underbody of the vehicle an
d can lead to damage or failure of the
vehicle. This applies especially when there is
a hollow or soft ground in front or behind
the object or if you drive too fast over th
e object and thus the vehicle is deflected.
For the sake of the environment
Leaking engine oil and brake fluid pollute the environment and contaminate the bodies of water. The dispos
al e.g. of engine oil soaked soil can be costly.
Crossing bodies of waterParticular attention is required wh
en driving through bodies of water
⇒page 179.
Driving through snow-covered terrain– Before you drive through snow-covered te
rrain, mount snow chains on the front
wheels or on the rear wheels
⇒page 219, “Snow chains” in order to achieve the
best possible traction.
–Switch on the Off-road mode
⇒page 170.
Even harmless looking sections of terrain can be dangerous. This applies in particular for sections where no ruts or other tracks are visible.
WARNING
•
Driving through snow-covered terrain poses special dangers. Never choose
a dangerous route and never take a risk which could jeopardize your safety and that of your passengers. If you cannot go on or if you doubt the safety of the route, turn back and choose another way.•
Potholes, troughs, trenches, precipices,
sheets of ice or other obstructions
are often completely or partially obscured by snow.•
The hidden dangers of snow can cause an accident, serious injuries or your
vehicle to break down under
extreme weather conditions.
Driving over steep terrainDriving uphill and downhill– Stop the vehicle before driving uphill or
downhill, exit the vehicle and explore the
situation.
– Walk a stretch and check the firmness of the soil and look for obstructions or other
hidden dangers.
– Check how the route continues beyond the slope. – Switch on the Off-road mode
⇒page 170.
– Drive slowly and steadily straight uphill or downhill.– Do not stop the vehicle on a hillside or attempt to turn around. – You must prevent the engine from cutting out.Driving uphill– Check before driving over a hilltop, how it
continues on the other side. If you drive
up a steep hill, the vehicle faces the sky and you cannot see what is directly in front of the vehicle.
– Switch on the Off-road mode
⇒page 170.
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roof should be removed and secured, as the
vehicle could tilt by
a sudden shifting of
the luggage. A passenger, seated at the rear, should always
remain seated on the seat facing up the
hill during such a journey. In an extreme ca
se, the passenger on the relevant side must
exit the vehicle until you have
safely crossed the hillside.
Exiting the vehicle on a hillside If the vehicle comes to a standstill at a steep angle on a hillside and you and your passengers must exit the vehicle, then all th
e occupants should exit on the side facing
up the hill
⇒page 186, fig. 166
on the right.
WARNING
•
Never attempt to drive uphill or downhill if it is too steep for your vehicle.
The vehicle could slip, tilt or roll over - risk of accident!•
When driving at an angle on a hillside,
the vehicle can lose its grip and slide
sideways. The vehicle can tilt or roll over
and then roll down the hillside. This
can lead to serious injuries.•
Always make sure that when the vehicle
is at an angle, the wheels on the low
side do not sink deeply into the ground or into troughs and do not drive over stones, tree stumps or other obstructions
with the alternate ra
ised wheels - risk
of accident!•
Before you drive at an angle on a hillside
⇒page 186, fig. 166
, make sure
that you can steer and maintain your trajectory. If this is not possible, choose a different path. If you drive at an angle
on a hillside and there is a risk your
vehicle may tilt, steer imme
diately downhill on your trajectory and lightly
depress the accelerator.•
If the vehicle is stationary on a hillside
with a too great angle of lateral incli-
nation, avoid sudden and uncontrolled movements in the vehicle. The vehicle can roll over and then roll down the hillside. This can lead to serious injuries.•
If the vehicle is stationary on a hillside
with a too great angle of lateral incli-
nation, neither you nor your occupants must exit the vehicle through the doors facing downhill. This can lead to a shift of the overall centre of gravity. The vehicle can tilt or roll over and then roll down the hillside. This can lead to serious injuries. To avoid this, you and your occupants must exit the vehicle only on the side facing uphill
⇒page 186, fig. 166
.
•
When you exit the vehicle, make sure
that the door which faces uphill does
not close by its own weight or by carelessness - risk of injury!•
Observe the important guidelines
⇒page 180.
Driving over rutted roads and troughsYou will always encounter ruts when drivin
g on forest roads, through wet meadows
and fields as well as on rutted stretches of terrain. If the ruts and troughs are on firm and soft ground, you can simply follow the ruts.Do not drive over ruts and troughs which are
too deep. If you cannot avoid this, it is
better that you turn back.
Caution
If the ruts or troughs become too deep,
the underbody of the vehicle can touch the
ground, which might cause the
underbody to get damaged. Therefore, avoid driving in
deep ruts and troughs.Crossing a trenchIf possible, drive through the trench at an acute angle. Make sure when driving through the trench that the tilt angle is not too steep.
WARNING
Never attempt to drive through a trench if its embankment is too steep. The vehicle could slip, tilt or roll over - risk of accident!
Caution
If you drive into the trench at a right angle,
the front wheels will sink into the trench.
There is also the danger that the underbod
y of the vehicle touches the ground and is
damaged. For these reasons (even with four-wheel drive) it is rarely possible to get out of the trench.
WARNING (continued)
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Technical Data
After driving off-roadCheck the vehicle for damage after driving off-road - especially on the underside of the vehicle. – Switch off the Off-road mode
⇒page 170.
– Check the tyres and the axles for damage and remove coarse dirt, stones and
foreign bodies from the tyre tread.
– Clean the turn signal lights, the headlights, the number plate and the windows. – Check the underbody of the vehicle and re
move trapped objects, such as scrub or
wood pieces.
– Contact your specialist gara
ge if you detect any damage.
– In case of thick layers of
dirt, clean the radiator grille, the engine compartment and
the underbody of the vehicle.
WARNING
•
Combustible materials which are trapped under the vehicle floor can be
dangerous. They can impair the driving
safety and the safety of all the occu-
pants of the vehicle. After driving off-
road, always check the underside of the
vehicle and remove trapped objects.•
Never continue the journey if objects
are trapped under the vehicle. This
can damage the fuel lines, the brake sy
stem, the seals and other parts of the
chassis.•
Combustible objects such as dry leaves or twigs could ignite on hot vehicle
parts. A vehicle fire can also lead to serious injuries.•
Observe the important guidelines
⇒page 180.
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