
Starting-off and Driving
110
•
You should not switch on any major elec
trical components during the heating
period otherwise
the vehicle battery will
be drained unnecessarily.
- start engine Applies to all models: Position
To lock the steering
, with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel until the
steering locking pin is heard to
engage. You should always lock the steering as a general
rule if you leave your vehicle. This acts as
a deterrent against possible theft of your
vehicle
⇒
.
Position
Move the steering wheel back and forward a little if the ignition key cannot, or cannot easily be turned into this position, in order to release the steering lock. Position
The engine is started in this position. At the same time, major electrical components are switched off for short periods. The igni
tion key moves back into position when
one releases the key. The ignition key must be turned back into
position each time before starting the
engine again. The starter repeat lock in th
e ignition lock prevents the starter being
engaged when the engine is r
unning and thus getting damaged.
Ignition key withdrawal lock (automatic gearbox) You can only withdraw the ignition key after switching off the ignition if the selector lever is in position
P.
WARNING
•
When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position (ignition
switched on) without the engine running. This position is indicated by the warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, it could result in unexpected locking of the steering wh
eel - risk of accident!
•
Only remove the ignition key from the ignition lock when the vehicle has
come to a standstill (by applying the handbrake or moving the selector lever into the position P). The
steering lock can engage imme
diately - risk of acci-
dent!
•
Always withdraw the ignition key if yo
u are going to leave the vehicle, even
for a short time. This is particularly important if children are left in the vehicle. The children might otherwise start the engi
ne or switch on el
ectrical equipment
(e.g. power windows) - risk of accident or injury!Starting the engineGeneral You can only start the engine only using an original ignition key.•
Place the gearshift lever into neutral (or
place the selector lever to the position
P or
N in the case of an automatic gearbox) and put on the handbrake firmly before starting the engine.•
The clutch pedal should be fully depressed when starting the engine - the starter
then only has to crank the engine.•
Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be damage to
the starter. The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after starting the cold engine until oil pressure can be
built up in the hydraulic valve clearance
compensation. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem. If the engine does not start ... You can use the battery of anothe
r vehicle as a jump-start aid
⇒page 229.
It is only possible to tow-start vehicles fi
tted with a manual gearbox. The tow-starting
distance must not be more than 50 metres
⇒page 231.
WARNING
•
Never run the engine in non ventilated
or enclosed areas. The exhaust gases
of the engine contain besides the odorless and colourless carbon monoxide a poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon mono
xide can cause unconsciousness and
death.
A3
A1A2A3
A2
A1
A2
WARNING (continued)
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Seat belts
142
The speed of the vehicle is,
nevertheless, the most important factor. Doubling the
speed of the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy four times. The common opinion that it is possible to su
pport your body in a minor accident with
your hands, is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces acting on the body are such that it is no longer possible to support your body. Even if you only drive at a speed within the range from 30 km/hour to 50 km/hour, the forces which are produced on your body in
the event of an accident can easily exceed
10.000 N (Newton). This equals a weight of one tonne (1 000 kg). In the event of a frontal collision, occupant
s of the car not wearing a seat belt, are
thrown forward and strike in an uncontrolled
way parts of the interior of the car, such
as steering wheel, da
sh panel, windscreen,
⇒page 141, fig. 133
. The occupants of a
vehicle who have not fastened their seat belts may even be thrown out of the vehicle. This can result in fatal injuries. It is also important that rear seat occupants fasten their seat belts as they will otherwise be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontr
olled manner in the event of an accident.
A rear seat passenger who has not fastened the
s eat bel t i s a dang er not o nl y to hims elf
but also for those seated at the front
⇒page 141, fig. 133
.
Important safety information regarding the use of seat beltsThe correct use of the seat belts cons
iderably reduces the risk of injury!
WARNING
•
The belt webbing must no
t be jammed in-between at any point or twisted,
or chafe against any sharp edges.•
It is important that the belt webbing is properly routed if the seat belts are
to offer their maximum protection
⇒page 143.
•
No two persons (also not children) should ever use a single seat belt
together.•
The maximum protection which seat belts can offer is only achieved if you
are correctly seated
⇒page 138, “Correct seated position”.
•
The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects (e.g. specta-
cles, ball-point pens, keys etc.) as this may be a cause of injuries.•
Bulky, loose clothing (e.g. a winter coat over a jacket) does not allow you to
be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of the seat belts.•
It is prohibited to use clamps or other objects to adjust seat belts (e.g. for
shortening the belts for smaller persons).•
The lock tongue should only be inserted into the lock which is the correct
one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety
belt will reduce its capacity to protect
and the risk of injury increases.•
The seat backrests of the front seats must not be tilted too far to the rear
otherwise the seatbelts can
lose their effectiveness.
•
The belt webbing must always be ke
pt clean. Soiled belt webbing may
impair proper operation of the inertia reel
⇒page 199, “Seat belts”.
•
The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked by paper or similar objects
otherwise the belt tongue will not lock in place properly.•
Inspect the seat belts regula
rly to ensure they are in
good condition. If you
find seat belts which have damage to the seat belt webbing, seat belt connec- tions, to the inertia reels or to the lock,
the relevant safety belt must be replaced
by a specialist garage.•
The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not make an
attempt to repair the seat belts yourself.•
Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an accident and
were therefore stretched, must be replaced - this is best done by a specialist garage. The anchorage points of the
belts must also be inspected. The
anchorage points for the belts should also be checked. •
In certain countries it is possible to use seat belts which differ in terms of
their operation from the seat belts wh
ich are described on the pages which
follow.
WARNING (continued)
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Intelligent Technology
166
Active driver-steering recommendation (DSR)*Vehicles with ESP are equipped with active driver-steering recommendation (DSR). This function indicates to the driver in critical situations a steering recommendation in order to stabilise the vehicle. The active driver-steering recommendation is activated, for example, on the right and left vehicle si
de when braking sharply on different road
surfaces.
WARNING
Even with this function the vehicle canno
t steer itself! The dr
iver is furthermore
responsible for the steering of the vehicle!BrakesWhat has a negative effect on braking efficiency?Wear-and-tear Wear-and-tear to the brake pads is greatly dependent on the operating conditions of the vehicle and your style of driving. Particul
arly if you drive a great deal in towns and
over short distances or if you adopt a sporty style of driving, it may be necessary to have the thickness of the brake pads inspected at a specialist garage between the service inspections. Wet roads or road salt There may be a certain delay before the brakes
take full effect under certain conditions
such as when driving through water, during
heavy rain showers or after the vehicle has
been washed in an automatic vehicle wash
, since the brake discs and brake pads may
be moist or even have a coatin
g of ice on them in winter.
Yo u s h o u l d d r y t h e b r a k e s a s
soon as possible by applying and
releasing the brakes several times.
There also may be a certain delay before the full braking efficiency is available when driving on roads which have been treated with
road salt if you have not used the brakes
for some considerable time beforehand. The layer of salt on the brake discs and brake pads must first be rubbed off when you apply the brakes.
Corrosion Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on th
e bake pads occur if
the vehicle has been
parked for a long period and if you do
not make much use of the braking system.
We recommend cleaning the brake discs by firm
ly applying the brakes at a fairly high
speed if you do not make much use of the braking system or if surface corrosion is present
⇒
.
Faults in the brake surface If you notice that the braking distance has
suddenly become longer and that the brake
pedal can be depressed further, it is possib
le that a brake circuit of the dual-circuit
brake system has failed. Drive, in such cases, to the nearest specialist garage without delay in order to have the problem rectifie
d. Drive at a reduced speed while on your
way to the dealer and adapt your style of
driving to the higher brake pedal pressure
required. Low brake fluid level An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system. The level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically
⇒page 37, “Brake system
”.
WARNING
•
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 jeop-ardy.•
When retrospectively mounting a front
spoiler, solid wheel hubs etc. one
must ensure that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced other-wise the braking system could run too hot.•
Allow for the fact that new brake pads
do not achieve their full braking effi-
ciency until approximately 200 kilometres. New brake pads must be first “run in” before they develop their optimal fric
tion force. You can, however, compen-
sate for this slightly reduced braking fo
rce by increasing the pressure on the
brake pedal. This guideline also applie
s to any new brake pads installed at a
future date.
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Intelligent Technology
171
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
•
TCS Off-road
⇒page 165,
•
ABS Off-road
⇒page 167.
Switch on Off-road The Off-road mode is switched on by pressing the button
⇒page 170, fig. 158
. The
warning light in the button lights up. The wa
rning light lights up in the instrument
cluster if the system is switched on
⇒page 38.
Switch off Off-road The Off-road mode is switched off by repe
ated pressing of the button. The warning
light in the button goes out. When switching
off the ignition, the Off-road mode is also
switched off and can be switched on again, if necessary, after switching on the ignition. If the engine is switched off by accident an
d restarted within 30 seconds, the Off-road
mode remains switched on. All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve proper operation of the Off-road mode. Differing rolling circum
ferences of the tyres can lead to an unde-
sirable reduction in the engine output.
WARNING
•
Always adjust your speed to suit weat
her, road and traffic conditions. The
increased safety must not tempt you to take a greater safety risk than otherwise - risk of accident!•
The Off-road equipment can also not overcome the physical limits of your
vehicle.•
The effect of the Off-road equipm
ent depends as well on the tyres.
•
The Off-road equipment
is not designed for the use on common roads.
Start-Off Assist*The Start-Off Assist enhances the driving comfort and can be used when starting off, in particular on a slope. When the vehicle is stationary, the Start-Off Assist is activated after switching it on using the button for the Off-road mode
⇒page 170, fig. 158
.
Operating principle When depressing the accelerator pedal fully, the engine speed required for the start- up procedure of the stationary vehicle is restricted. The overspeed trip unit is automat-ically deactivated after terminating the start-up procedure. As part of the Assist System, the accelerator pedal is adapted in its characteristics for an easier start-off on slippery and loose soil.Downhill Drive Support*Operating principle The Downhill Drive Support maintains a cons
tant speed on a steep downhill section
when driving forwards and backwards by
automatically intervening in the brake
system of all wheels. It prevents the wheels locking because the ABS remains active. The warning light
in the information display of the instrument cluster indicates that
the Downhill Drive Support is available
⇒page 38.
The vehicle speed, which is maintained by the Assist System, is selected by the driver while driving on a downhill section as of the
moment the first intervention of the Assist
System is performed or else, while driving on a downhill section, the driver must control the vehicle speed until the Assist System intervenes for the first time. When the Assist System actively intervenes, this is indicated by the warning light flashing or by a pulsating movement of the brake pedal,
similar to the intervention of the ABS.
The Downhill Drive Support is available in the speed range of 2 km/h up to 30 km/h. If the gear is engaged and the clutch pedal is
not pressed, the lower limit of the idling
speed corresponds to the respective gear which is engaged. You can increase or reduce the speed, even when no gear is engaged, by operating the accelerator or brake pedal. Thus the function
is always interrupted and is reactivated
afterwards. The Downhill Drive Support is activated auto
matically if the following conditions are
met:•
the Off-road mode is switched on and the warning light
lights up in the instru-
ment cluster,•
the engine of the vehicle is running and either the 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear, the reverse
gear or no gear is engaged,•
the speed is less than 30 km/h,
sgg.6.book Page 171 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Intelligent Technology
172
•
the downhill gradient is at least 10% (w
hen driving over sleepers the limit can
briefly drop to 8%),•
neither the accelerator nor the brake pedal is operated.
It is however a requirement that the vehicle
has sufficient grip on the soil. The Downhill
Drive Support cannot properly fulfil its functi
on on slushy soil due to physical reasons
(ice or mud). The Downhill Drive Support is deactivated wh
en braking or accelerating or if the
downhill gradient is less than 10%.
Note
•
During an intervention of the Downhill Drive Support, the brake lights do not light
up.•
Do not switch off the Off-road mode during an intervention of the Assist System.
sgg.6.book Page 172 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Driving and the Environment
174
Catalytic converterProper operation of the emission cont
rol system (catalytic converter) is
of major significance for driving your vehicle in an environmentally conscious way.Please refer to the following guidelines: – For vehicles with petrol engine only refuel with unleaded petrol
⇒page 200,
“Grades of petrol”.
– Never run the fuel tank completely empty.– Do not switch off the ignition while you are driving the vehicle. – Do not pour too much oil into the engine
⇒page 206, “Replenishing engine oil”.
– Do not tow-start the vehicle over a distance of more than 50 metres
⇒page 230,
“Tow-starting and towing vehicle”.
If you drive your vehicle in a country in
which unleaded petrol is not available, you
must have the catalytic converter replaced la
ter when driving the ve
hicle into a country
in which use of a catalyti
c converter is mandatory.
WARNING
•
In view of the high temperatures which may be produced in the catalytic
converter, one should always park a vehicle in such a way that the catalytic converter cannot come into contact with easily flammable materials below the vehicle - a risk of fire!•
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents
for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields. Such substances might ignite when driving - risk of fire!
Caution
•
On vehicles fitted with a catalytic converte
r, never let the fuel tank run completely
empty. An irregular fuel supply can result in poor ignition or misfiring. Unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system an
d damage the cata
lytic converter.
•
Filling the tank even only once with lead
ed petrol will result in the catalytic
converter being destroyed.•
If you detect misfir
ing, a drop in performance or
irregular engine running when
driving, reduce your speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected by the nearest specialist garage. The symptoms described ma
y be caused by a fault in the ignition
system. Unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and damage the catalytic converter.
For the sake of the environment
Even if the exhaust system is operating pr
operly, a sulphur-like exhaust odour may be
produced under certain oper
ating conditions of the en
gine. This de
pends on the
sulphur content of the fuel. It is often sufficient to refuel with unleaded premium-grade petrol of a different brand or at a different filling station.Driving in an economical and environmentally conscious mannerGeneral Your personal style of driving is a major factor.Your fuel consumption, any pollution of
the environmental and the wear-and-tear to
the engine, brakes and tyres, depend essentially on three factors:•
your personal style of driving,
•
the conditions under which
your vehicle is operated,
•
technical aspects.
You can easily improve your fuel economy by
10 - 15 percent by driving in an econom-
ical way with foresight. This section is intended to provide you with a number of tips on how to protect the environment and at the same time save money. The fuel consumption can naturally also be
influenced by factors which are beyond the
driver's control. It is, for example, normal
for the fuel consumption to increase in
winter and under worsened cond
itions such as poor road conditions, towing a trailer,
etc.
sgg.6.book Page 174 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Driving and the Environment
176
Avoiding full throttle Driving more slowly means saving fuel.Sensitive use of the accelerator will not only
significantly reduce fuel consumption but
also positively influence environmenta
l pollution and wear of your vehicle.
You should avoid exploiting the top speed
of your vehicle wherever possible. Fuel
consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle noises increase disproportionally at high speeds. The
⇒fig. 160
shows the ratio between the fuel
consumption and the speed of your
vehicle. You will cut your fuel consumption by
half if you only make use three-quarters
of the possible top speed of your vehicle.Reducing idling Idling also costs fuel.It is worthwhile switching off the engine in
a traffic jam or when waiting at a level
crossing or at traffic lights with a lengthy red phase. Even after just 30 - 40 seconds you will have saved more fuel th
an that is needed when you start the engine up again.
If an engine is only idling it takes much
longer for it to reach its normal operating
temperature. Wear-and-tear and pollutant emis
sions, though, are particularly high in
the warming-up phase. This is why you should drive off right after starting the engine. Do avoid high engine revolu
tions at this time, however.
Regular servicing A poorly tuned engine consumes an unnecessarily high amount of fuel.Having your vehicle serviced regularly at a specialist garge enables you to satisfy
one
of the requirements for economical motoring
even before you set off on your journey.
Keeping your vehicle properly serviced not on
ly has a positive effect on the safety of
your vehicle and maintaining its value, but also saves on
fuel
.
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fuel consumption which is 10% higher than normal. The foreseen maintenance work should be undertaken exactly according to the Service schedule by a specialist garage. Also check the
oil level
after refueling.
Oil consumption
is dependent to a consider-
able extent on the load and speed of the en
gine. Oil consumption could be as high as
0.5 litres/1 000 km depending on your style of driving. It is quite normal that a ne
w engine has a higher oil cons
umption at first, and reaches
its lowest level only after a certain running
in time. It is therefore not possible to
correctly assess the oil consumption of a ne
w vehicle until after you have driven about
5 000 km.
For the sake of the environment
•
You can achieve additional
improvements in your fuel economy by using high-
lubricity oils.•
Check the ground below your vehicle at regular intervals to detect any leakages in
good time. Please have your vehicle inspec
ted by a specialist garge if you find any
stains caused by oil or other fluids on the floor.
Fig. 160 Fuel consumption in litres/100 km. and speed in km/h.
sgg.6.book Page 176 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Driving and the Environment
179
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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
sgg.6.book Page 179 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM