Trailer towing199
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Where possible, operate the trailer with the maximum permitted
drawbar
load on the ball joint of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the specified
limit.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressures on your vehicle, 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 119.
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 the vehicle serviced
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 slow to allow for
the unbalanced weight distribution.
Speed
The stability of the vehicle and trailer is reduced with increasing speed. There-
fore, it is advisable not to drive at the maximum permissible speed in unfa-
vourable road, weather or wind condit ions. This especially applies when
driving downhill.
You should always reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying . Never try to stabilise the trailer by accelerating.
Anticipate hazards and brake in good time. If towing a trailer with an inertia
brake , first brake gently and then harder. 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 weight.
They can be purchased and installed at a Technical Service.
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 lamp
v in the instrument panel should start
flashing, stop the vehicle and let the engine cool down by running it at idling
speed for a few minutes.
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Wheels and tyres241
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
display TMPS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System). Please contact the nearest
qualified workshop as soon as possible.
The tyre pressure warning lamp
~ lights up if the tyre pressure on one or
more wheels is significantly lower than the tyre pressure setting which was
confirmed by the driver ⇒.
WARNING
•If the tyre pressure warning lamp lights up
~ you must slow down
immediately and avoid any severe braking or steering manoeuvres. Stop
the vehicle as soon as possible and check the tyres and their pressure.
•The driver is responsible for maintaining correct tyre pressures. There-
fore, the tyre pressure must be regularly checked.•Under certain conditions (e.g. driving at high speeds, on ice and snow
or on poor road surfaces) the tyre pressure warning lamp
~ may not light
up immediately or not at all.
•Please ask your Dealer or qualified workshop whether run-flat tyres can
be used on your vehicle. Fitting this type of tyre in an undue manner could
lead to your driving licence being taken away from you. Furthermore, it may
led to damage to the vehicle or, under certain circumstances, may cause
accidents.•If you change normal tyres for run-flat tyres or vice versa, the control
unit must be reprogrammed by the Dealer or a qualified workshop.Note
If you did not press the button for the tyre pressure monitoring system to
confirm a new tyre pressure setting after making changes to the tyre pres-
sures or changing one or more wheels, the warning lamp
~ may light up
although the tyre pressures are correct. In this case, stop the vehicle as soon
as possible and, after examining the tyres, press the button for the tyre pres-
sure monitoring system.
Tyre ser vice life
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre pressure, driving
style and fitting.
Fig. 174 Tyre tread wear
indicatorsFig. 175 Diagram for
changing wheels
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If and when249
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Your vehicle can be factory-equipped with a spare steel wheel. The spare
wheel does
not usually meet the same performance standards as the wheels
fitted on the vehicle because of the wheel/tyre dimensions, rubber composi-
tion, tread pattern, etc. Therefore, note the following restrictions:
•The spare steel wheel is designed only for your vehicle model. Do not
attempt to mount the wheel on any vehicle but your own.•Your vehicle will have different driving characteristics when the spare
steel rim wheel is mounted ⇒.•The spare wheel is only intended for temporary use after having a flat tyre.
Replace the spare wheel with a normal wheel that has the proper tyre dimen-
sions as soon as possible.•If the size of the spare steel rim wheel is different to that of the other
wheels, it is unlikely that snow chains suitable for the other wheels will fit it.WARNING
•After mounting the spare steel rim wheel, the tyre pressure must be
checked and corrected as soon as possible. The tyre pressure must corre-
spond to the vehicle load (consult th e table containing the inflation pres-
sures). Otherwise there is danger of causing an accident. Use the highest
tyre pressure as indicated in the table.•Do not drive faster than 80 km/h, as higher speeds can cause an acci-
dent.•Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking and fast cornering, as this could
cause an accident.
Changing a wheelPreparation work
What you must do before changing a wheel.– If you have a flat tyre or puncture, park the vehicle as far away from the flow of traffic as possible. Choose a location that is as
level as possible.
–All passengers should leave the vehicle. They should wait in a
safe place (e.g. behind the roadside crash barrier).
–Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Engage 1st gear .
– When towing a trailer: Unhitch the trailer from your vehicle.
– Take the tools and the spare wheel ⇒ page 247 out of the
luggage compartment.
WARNING
If you have a puncture in heavy traffic, switch on the hazard warning lights
and place the warning triangle in a visible location. This is for your own
safety and also warns other road users.
Caution
If you have to change the tyre on a gradient, block the wheel opposite the
wheel being changed by placing a stone or similar object under it to prevent
the vehicle from rolling away.
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If and when257
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
– If the tyre pressure remains lower than the value specified above
drive the vehicle approx. 10 metres forwards or backwards, so
that the sealant can spread evenly in the tyre. If the pressure is
still lower than the specification the tyre is too badly damaged
and cannot be repaired using the tyre sealant.
Final check
– After about 10 minutes, stop to check the tyre pressure.
– If tyre pressure is less than 1.3 bar, the tyre is too badly damaged. Do not drive on! You should obtain professional
assistance.
WARNING
•If you have a puncture in heavy traffic, switch on the hazard warning
lights and place the warning triangle in a visible location. This is for your
own safety and also warns other road users.•Make sure your pass engers wait in a safe place ( for instance behind t he
roadside crash barrier).•Please observe the manufacturer’s safety notes on the compressor and
the instructions supplied with the tyre sealant can.•If it is not possible to build up a tyre pressure of 2.0 bar within 6
minutes this means that the tyre is too badly damaged. Do not drive on!•Seek professional assistance if the repair of a tyre puncture is not
possible with the sealing compound.•If tyre pressure is less than 1.3 bar after driving about 10 minutes, the
tyre is too badly damaged. Do not drive on! Obtain technical assistance.Caution
Take special care if you have to repair a tyre on a slope.
Note
•Do not use the compressor for longer than 6 minutes. Otherwise, it might
overheat. When the compressor has cooled down, you can use it again.•If tyre sealant should leak out, leave it to dry and then pull it off like foil.•After carrying out a tyre repair remember to buy a new tyre sealant can at
a qualified workshop. This will ensure that the Tyre Mobility System is opera-
tive again.•Please observe legal requirements when doing so.
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If and when
260Some of the electrical items listed in the table are only fitted on certain
models or are optional extras.
The electric windows and electric seat adjusters are protected by circuit
breakers . These reset automatically after a few seconds when the overload
(caused for example by frozen windows) has been corrected.
Note
Please note that the above list contains all data at the time of going to press,
so it is subject to modifications. If discrepancies should occur, please refer to
the sticker on the inside of the fuse cover for the correct information for your
model.BulbsGeneral informationYou can change the following bulbs for exterior lights yourself:•Main headlights: all bulbs (except xenon headlights)•Tail lights: all bulbs•Side turn signal bulb
The following bulbs can only be changed by a qualified workshop:
•Main headlights: Xenon* bulb ⇒page 267•Front fog light bulbs
As a rule, you require a certain degree of practical skill to change defective
bulbs. This applies in particular to those bulbs which are only accessible from
the engine compartment.
If in doubt, we recommend that you have defective bulbs changed by a qual-
ified workshop or qualified mechanic.
If you do decide to change bulbs in the engine compartment yourself, be
aware of the safety risks involved ⇒page 224 ⇒ in “Types of bulbs”.Changing bulbs. Halogen headlightsTypes of bulbsYou must only replace a bulb with a bulb of the same type. The name can be
found on the base of the bulb holder.
WARNING
•Take particular care when working on components in the engine
compartment if the engine is warm - risk of burns!
41
230 volt socket
30
42
Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
25
43
Engine management
15
44
Seat heating
35
No.
Consumer
Amps
Bulb
Type
Dipped beam headlights (halogen)
12 V/55 W (H7 LL)
Main beam headlights
12 V/55 W (H1)
Turn signal
12 V/21 W (PY21W)
Side lights
12 V/5 W (W5W LL)
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If and when261
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
•Bulbs are highly sensitive to pressure. The glass can break when you
touch the bulb, causing injury.•The high voltage element of gas discharge bulbs* (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 tail lights and the turn signals may be temporarily misted. This has
no influence on 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.–Unscrew bolts
⇒fig. 188 .
– Detach air duct from guide and take it out.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 188 Air duct on right
side of vehicle
AA
AB
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If and when
268
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 discha rge bulbs* (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 tail lights and the turn signals may be temporarily misted. This has no influence on 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)
Turn signal
12 V/21 W (PY21W)
Side lights
12 V/5 W (W5W blue LL)
Fig. 200 Air duct on right
side of vehicle
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If and when
272Changing the side light bulb
The procedure for changing the bulb is the same on both
sides.
– Switch off the ignition and the lights.
– Raise the bonnet.
– Move the brace ⇒ fig. 206 in the direction of the arrow and
remove the rigid cover, separating the brace side and then
removing the two tabs from the other end of the cover.
– Remove the bulb holder by pulling on the grip ⇒fig. 207 (it can
also be removed by pulling on the bulb holder wires).
– Separate the bulb from the bulb holder by pulling both pieces anti-clockwise.
– Fit the new bulb by pressing on the bulb holder.
– Insert the bulb into the socket and press on the bulb holder grip.
– Fit the cover, first inserting the side tabs and then closing the cover and the brace. Make sure that the gasket sits well on the
casing cover during the operation.
– Check whether the new bulb is working.Changing the xenon bulbThe procedure for changing the bulb is the same on both sides.
WARNING
This type of bulb should be changed at a qualified workshop.
Fig. 206 Side lightFig. 207 Side light
A1
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