
Air conditioning165
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Solar-powered blower/sunroof*
If the vehicle is parked in sufficiently strong sunlight, the
blower will operate in solar-powered mode when the ignition
is switched off.After the ignition is switched off, the blower is supplied with electrical power
from the sunroof. Please ensure that outlets 3 and 4 are open ⇒page 163,
fig. 132 to ensure the best possible ventilation.
The blower only works when the sunroof is closed or tilted open at the rear.
If the air recirculation mode is on when you switch off the engine, the air
conditioner will automatically switch to fresh air ventilation.Auxiliary heater*Diesel vehicles are fitted with an auxiliary heater
2) to raise the temperature of
the interior as quickly as possible. At outdoor temperatures below +5°C and
with the engine running, the auxiliary heater will switch on and off automati-
cally depending on the temperature of the coolant.
In order to save fuel, the auxiliary heater can be can be switched off by briefly
pressing the button on the air conditioner.
Seat heating*
The surface and backrest of the front seats can be electrically
heated.Turn thumbwheel or ⇒fig. 133 to switch on and adjust the
heating on the left or right front seats.The heating is switched off when the thumbwheel is set to 0. The temperature
settings range from 1 to 6.
Caution
To avoid damaging the heating elements of the seat heating, please do not
kneel on the seat or apply sharp pressure to a single point.
2)For Nordic countries only.
% # / .
Fig. 133 Detailed view of
the dash panel: Thum-
bwheel controls for seat
heating
A1
A2
exeo_EN.book Seite 165 Montag, 30. August 2010 4:45 16

Driving169
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
– Turn the ignition key to position without pressing the acceler-
ator.
– Release the ignition key as soon as the engine starts (the starter motor must not be allowed to run on with the engine).
Vehicles with a diesel engine:
– Use the foot brake.
– Manual gearbox: Push the clutch pedal all the way down.
– Move the gear lever into neutral (automatic gearbox: selector lever to P or N) ⇒.
– Turn the ignition key to position . The pre-heating indicator light
D comes on while the glow plugs are preheating.
– When the indicator light
D goes out, turn the ignition key to
position . Do not press the accelerator.
– Release the ignition key as soon as the engine starts (the starter motor must not be allowed to run on with the engine).
When starting a very cold engine, it may be a little noisy for the first few
seconds until oil pressure has built up in the hydraulic valve compensators.
This is quite normal, and no cause for concern.
If the engine fails to start straight away, stop after 10 seconds and try again
after about half a minute.
Glow plug system*
To assist starting at low temperatures, diesel engines are equipped with a
glow plug preheating system. The preheating time depends on the coolant
temperature and the outside temperature. Start the engine as soon as the
glow plug indicator light
D goes out. When the engine is warm or at outside temperatures above +8°C, the glow
plug indicator light will only come on for about one second. This means that
the engine can be started
immediately.
If the engine will not start...
•⇒ page 284•⇒page 287•⇒page 220, “Refuelling”WARNING
Never run the engine in confined spaces, as the exhaust gases are
poisonous.
Caution
Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle and extreme load conditions until the
engine has reached its normal operating temperature, otherwise this can
damage the engine.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine by running the engine with the vehicle stationary.
Start immediately. This will help avoid unnecessary exhaust emissions.Stopping the engine– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 168, fig. 137 .
WARNING
•Never switch the engine off until the vehicle is stationary.
A3A2
A3
A1
exeo_EN.book Seite 169 Montag, 30. August 2010 4:45 16

Driving177
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Manual gearboxDriving with a manual gearboxEngaging the reverse gear
– The vehicle should be stationary with the engine idling. Press the
clutch down thoroughly.
– Place the gear lever into neutral and push the lever downwards.
– Slide the gear lever to the left, and then into the reverse position shown on the gear lever.The reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary. When
the engine is running and before engaging this gear, wait about 6 seconds
with the clutch pressed down thoroughly in order to protect the gearbox.
The reverse lights light up when the reverse gear is selected and the ignition
is on.
WARNING
•When the engine is running, the vehicle will start to move as soon as a
gear is engaged and the clutch released.•Never select the reverse gear when the vehicle is in motion. Risk of acci-
dent.Note
•Do not rest your hand on the gear lever while driving. The pressure of your
hand could cause premature wear on the selector forks in the gearbox.•When changing gear, you should always depress the clutch fully to avoid
unnecessary wear and damage.•Do not hold the vehicle on the clutch on hills. This causes premature wear
and damage to the clutch.Automatic gearbox*Introduction
multitronic
®, tiptronic (7-speed gearbox)
Vehicles with multitronic
® gearbox
The vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled continuously vari-
able transmission (multitronic®). Unlike conventional automatics, the gear
ratios are not shifted in fixed steps but continuously variable. This gives
smoother transmission and makes for better fuel economy.
The gearbox selects the gear ratio and shifts up or down automatically
according to the gear change programmes stored in the control unit
⇒ page 182.
Fig. 142 Detailed view of
the centre console: gear
shift pattern of a 6-speed
manual gearbox
exeo_EN.book Seite 177 Montag, 30. August 2010 4:45 16

Driving
180To move the selector lever to position R, press in the interlock button and at
the same time press the brake pedal. Depending on the model, one or two
reverse lights will come on in selector lever position R (when ignition is
switched on).
N - Neutral (idling)
In this position the gearbox is in neutral ⇒.
D - Drive (forward)
In this position, the gearbox selects the optimal transmission ratio
depending on the engine load, speed and the dynamic gear regulation
programme (DRP).
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector lever from N to D if the
vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒.
Under certain circumstances (e.g. when driving in mountains or towing a
trailer or caravan) it can be advantageous to switch temporarily to tiptronic
mode ⇒page 183, so that the gear ratios can be selected manually to suit
the driving conditions.
S - Sport position
To drive in sports mode, select the position S. The engine power reserve is
used to its maximum. When accelerating the gear shifts will be noticeable.
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector lever from N to S if the
vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒.
WARNING
•Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving. Failure to do so
could result in an accident.•In selector position D or S the vehicle must always be held with the foot
brake when the engine is running. This is because an automatic gearbox
still transmits power even at idling speed, and the vehicle tends to “creep”.
The throttle must on no account be opened inadvertently (for instance by hand from the engine compartment) when a gear is engaged with the
vehicle stationary. The vehicle could otherwise start moving immediately
(in some cases even if the parking brake is engaged) and possibly cause an
accident.
•To avoid accidents, apply the parking brake and put the selector lever
in position P before opening the bonnet and working on the vehicle with
the engine running. Please observe the important safety warnings
⇒ page 224, “Work in the engine compartment”.Note
•Applies to vehicles with tiptronic gearbox:•If the lever is moved accidentally to N when driving, release the acceler-
ator and let the engine speed drop to idling before selecting D or S again.•For the sake of fuel economy (and the environment), the gearbox ratios on
some models are designed so that maximum speed is only obtained when
the gear lever is in position S.WARNING (continued)
exeo_EN.book Seite 180 Montag, 30. August 2010 4:45 16

Driving
182Vehicles with tiptronic gearbox
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right down past the point of resistance
at full throttle, the gearbox will shift down to a lower gear, depending on road
speed and engine speed. The upshift to the next higher gear is delayed until
the engine reaches maximum rpm.
WARNING
P l eas e n o te t ha t i f t h e road s u r fa ce is s l i pp e r y o r w e t , t h e k ick- d ow n fe at u re
could cause the driving wheels to spin, which could result in skidding.Dynamic gear control programme (DCP)
The automatic gearbox is controlled electronically.The vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled gearbox. The gear
ratios are selected automatically according to preset gearshift programmes.
When you drive at moderate speeds the gearbox will select the most econom-
ical shift programme. It will then change up early and delay the downshifts to
give better fuel economy.
If you drive at higher speeds with heavy acceleration, if you open the throttle
quickly, or if you use the kick-down or the vehicle’s maximum speed, the
gearbox will automatically select the sport programme.
The gearbox is self-adapting, and continuously selects the most suitable shift
programme. At the same time, the driver can also make the gearbox switch to
the sport programme by pressing the accelerator quickly. This makes the
gearbox shift down into a lower gear ratio, allowing a more rapid acceleration
(for instance to pass another vehicle), without having to press the accelerator
all the way down into the kick-down position. After the gearbox has shifted
back up it returns to the original programme, depending on your style of
driving. Vehicles with multitronic® gearbox: the gearbox continuously adapts the
gear ratios to gradients. If the brake
pedal is pressed on a downhill gradient
the gearbox automatically shifts to a lower gear ratio. This increases the
engine braking effect.
Vehicles with tiptronic gearbox: in mountainous areas, the gearbox adapts
the gears for uphill and downhill gradients. This helps to avoid constant gear
changes on uphill gradients.
exeo_EN.book Seite 182 Montag, 30. August 2010 4:45 16

Driving and the environment193
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
change down into a lower gear or range (depending on the type of trans-
mission). This makes use of engine braking and relieves the brakes.
•Never let the brakes “drag” by applying light pressure. Continuous
braking will cause the brakes to overheat and the braking distance will
increase. Apply and then release the brakes alternately.•Never let the vehicle run with the engine switched off. The braking
distance is increased considerably when the brake servo is not active.•If the brake fluid loses its viscosity and is subjected to heavy use,
vapour bubbles can form in the brake system. This reduces the efficiency of
the brakes.•Non-standard or damaged front spoilers could restrict the airflow to the
brakes and cause them to overheat. Before purchasing accessories please
observe the relevant instructions ⇒page 218, “Technical modifications”.•If a brake circuit fails, the braking distance will be increased consider-
ably. Contact a qualified workshop immediately and avoid unnecessary
journeys.
Exhaust gas purification systemCatalytic converter*To maintain the useful life of the catalytic converter
– Use only unleaded petrol with petrol engines, as lead damages the catalytic converter.
– Do not let the fuel get too low in the tank. – For engine oil changes, do not replenish with too much engine oil
⇒page 226.
– Never tow the vehicle to start it, use jump leads if necessary ⇒page 284.
If you notice misfiring, uneven running or loss of power when the vehicle is
moving, reduce speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected at the
nearest qualified workshop. In general, the exhaust gas warning lamp will
light up when any of the described symptoms occur ⇒page 66. If this
happens, unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust system and escape into the envi-
ronment. The catalytic converter can also be damaged by overheating.
WARNING
The catalytic converter reaches very high temperatures! There is a risk of
fire.•Never park where the catalytic converter could come into contact with
dry grass or flammable materials under the vehicle.•Do not apply additional underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the
exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or the heat shields on the exhaust
system. These materials could catch fire when the vehicle is being driven.Caution
Never run the fuel tank completely dry because the irregularity of the fuel
supply may cause ignition problems. This allows unburnt fuel to enter the
exhaust system, which could cause overheating and damage the catalytic
converter.
For the sake of the environment
Even when the emission control system is working perfectly, there may be a
smell of sulphur from the exhaust gas under some conditions. This depends
WARNING (continued)
exeo_EN.book Seite 193 Montag, 30. August 2010 4:45 16

Driving and the environment
194on the sulphur content of the fuel used. Quite often the problem can be
solved by changing to another brand of fuel.Diesel engine particulate filter*
The diesel engine particulate filter eliminates soot produced
by burning diesel.The diesel engine particulate filter eliminates most of the soot from the
exhaust gas system. Under normal driving conditions, the filter cleans itself.
If the driving conditions do not allow the filter to clean itself (for example,
multiple short trips) the filter will be obstructed by dust and pollen and the
indicator
for the diesel engine particulate filter indicator will light up. This
does not represent a fault, it is a warning that indicates that the filter has not
been able to regenerate automatically and that you must carry out a cleaning
cycle, as indicated in ⇒page 80.
WARNING
•The diesel engine particulate filter may reach extremely high tempera-
tures; the vehicle should be parked so that the exhaust pipe does not come
into contact with flammable materials underneath the vehicle. Otherwise
there is a risk of fire.Caution
•Your vehicle is not designed to use biodiesel fuel. Never, under any
circumstances refuel with biodiesel. The use of biodiesel fuel could damage
the engine and the fuel system. The addition of biodiesel to diesel by the
diesel producer in accordance with standard EN 590 is authorised and will
not cause damage to the engine or the fuel system.
•Using diesel fuel with a high sulphur content may significantly reduce the
working life of the diesel particulate filter. Your Authorised Service Centre will
be able to tell you which countries have diesel with a high sulphur content.Economical and environmentally friendly
drivingEconomical and environmentally friendly drivingFuel consumption, environmental pollution and wear to the engine, brakes
and tyres depends in large part on your driving style. By adopting an econom-
ical driving style and anticipating the traffic situation ahead, you can easily
reduce fuel consumption by 10-15%. Some tips on how to help you reduce
pollution while saving money are listed below.
Drive anticipating the traffic situation
A vehicle uses most fuel when accelerating. When you anticipate the situa-
tion, you have to brake less often and, thus, accelerate less. If it is possible,
let the vehicle roll with a gear engaged, for example, if you see a red light
ahead. The braking effect achieved in this way helps to reduce the wear of
brakes and tyres; emissions and fuel consumption are reduced to zero
(disconnection due to inertia).
Change gear early to save energy
An effective way of saving fuel is to change up quickly through the gears.
Running the engine at high rpm in the lower gears uses an unnecessary
amount of fuel.
Manual gearbox: Change from first to second gear as quickly as possible. We
recommend that, whenever possible, you change to a higher gear upon
reaching 2000 rpm. Follow the recommended gear indication that appears on
the instrument panel ⇒page 73.

Driving and the environment195
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Avoid driving at high speed
We advise you not to drive at the top speed permitted by the vehicle. Fuel
consumption, exhaust emissions and noise levels all increase very rapidly at
higher speeds. Driving at moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Avoid idling
It is worthwhile switching off the engine when waiting in a traffic jam, at level
crossings or at traffic lights with a long red phase. The fuel saved after only
30 - 40seconds is greater than the amount of fuel needed to restart the
engine.
The engine takes a very long time to warm up when it is running at idling
speed. Mechanical wear and pollutant emissions are also especially high
during this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore best to drive off immediately
after starting the engine. Avoid running the engine at high speed.
Periodic maintenance
Periodic maintenance work guarantees that, before beginning a journey, you
will not consume more than the required amount of fuel. A well-serviced
engine gives you the benefit of improved fuel efficiency as well as maximum
reliability and an enhanced resale value.
A badly serviced engine can consume up to 10% more fuel than necessary.
Avoid short journeys
To reduce the consumption and emission of polluting gases, the engine and
the exhaust filtration systems should reach the optimum
service tempera-
ture .
With the engine cold, fuel consumption is proportionally higher. The engine
does not warm up and fuel consumption does not normalise until having
driven approximately four kilometres. This is why we recommend avoiding
short trips whenever possible. Maintain the correct tyre pressures
Bear in mind that keeping the tyres at an adequate pressure saves fuel. If the
tyre pressure is just 1 bar too low, fuel consumption can increase by as much
as 5%. Due to the greater rolling resistance, under-inflation also increases
tyre wear
and impairs handling.
The tyre pressures should always be checked when the tyres are cold.
Do not use winter tyres all year round as they increase fuel consumption by
up to 10%.
Avoid unnecessary weight
Every kilo of extra weight will put up the fuel consumption, so it is worth
checking the luggage compartment occasionally to make sure that no unnec-
essary loads are being transported.
A roof rack is often left in place for the sake of convenience, even when it is
no longer needed. At a speed of 100-120km/h your vehicle will use about
12% m ore fuel as a result of the extra wind resistance caused by the roof rack
even when it is not in use.
Save electricity
The engine activates the alternator, which produces electricity. With the need
for electricity, fuel consumption is also increased. Because of this, always
turn off electrical components when you do not need them. Examples of
components that use a lot of electricity are: the fan at high speeds, the rear
window heating or the seat heaters*.
Note
•If you vehicle has Start-Stop, it is not recommended to disconnect this
function.•It is recommended to close the windows when driving at more than 60
km/h