Driving and the Environment179
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 roadsIn 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. 154 .
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 generate 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.Note
After driving through a body of water, we recommend that the vehicle is checked by a
specialist garage.Off-road drivingImportant information
WARNING
Never drive too fast, particularly not around curves, and never undertake
extreme driving manoeuvres.
Always adjust your speed and adapt your style of driving to suit road, off-
road, traffic and weather conditions.
Fig. 154 Crossing bodies of water
WARNING (continued)
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Driving and the Environment183
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 supplement 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 th e 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 emer gency is particularly 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. Ma ke 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,
s h i f t u p i n to t h e n e xt h i g h e r g e a r a n d m a ke s u re t h a t t he v e h i c l e a l w a y s s t a y s i n m o t i o n.
Do not drive too fast so that you do n'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 throug h 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 overcome the physical
limits of your vehicle.
Be very alert and look ahead when driving off-road. Excessive speed or
incorrect driving manoeuvres can caus e damage to the vehicle and lead to
serious injuries.
Observe the important guidelines page 179.Caution
Pay attention to the ground clearance of the vehicle! The vehicle can be severely
damaged and become disabled once it touches the ground.
Never drive off-road with an almost empty fuel tank. The fuel supply to the engine
can be interrupted and therefore the cata lytic converter can be severely damaged.
Do not leave your foot on the clutch pedal or let the clutch slip when driving off-
road. Overwise you may unintentionally de press the clutch pedal on uneven ground
leading to a loss of control over the vehicle. In addition, the force for connecting the
engine and the gearbox is lost. Moreover, driving while letting the clutch slip causes a
fast wear of the clutch linings.Note
The fuel consumption is high er when driving off-road than when driving on conven-
tional roads, especially through difficult terr ain. When you prepare for your journey, be
aware of an increase in fuel consumption; the nearest filling station may be far away.
AA
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Driving and the Environment
184
Shifting gears correctlyThe gear you must shift into depends on th e terrain. Choosing the correct gear contrib-
utes to safe driving. In partic ular if you do not have much experience driving off-road,
it is always better, before negotiating a difficult stretch of the road, to pause and reflect
on which gear to engage. Your experience will tell you which gear is the best for certain
sections of the terrain.
Basically:
When the gear or the driving stage has been properly selected, it is unnecessary to
slow down the vehicle on a downhill sectio n using the footbrake as in most cases the
engine braking power is sufficient.
Depress the accelerator only as much as is necessary. A too great acceleration may
lead to the wheels spinning and thus results in the loss over the control of the vehicle.
Manual gearbox
If you are driving thro ugh difficult terrain, on no account use the clutch or change
the gear. When the clutch is depressed, th e vehicle may come to a standstill because
of the increased grip of all the tyres of the vehicle (e.g. in the mud, in deep sand or on
a slope). Once the vehicle has come to a stan dstill, it may be difficult or even impos-
sible to start off under these conditions.
When negotiating a steep downhill section or a steep uphill section, always shift
into the 1st or 2nd gear.
On a soft or slippery ground, you must drive at the appropriate speed and you
must select the highest possible gear for this.
Automatic gearbox
Select the selector lever position for normal flat stretches of terrain
page 121.
While in the Tiptronic mode, select the se lector lever position or if you are
driving through mud, sand, water or hilly sections of terrain page 123.
When negotiating a steep downhill section or a steep uphill section, select the
selector lever position while in the Tiptronic mode.
On a soft or slippery ground, you must drive at the appropriate speed and you
must select the highest possible driving stage.
Driving over rough and smooth– Switch on the Off-road mode page 170.
– Drive at walking speed over rocky passages.
– If it is not possible to drive around a stone, gently drive onto the stone with one of the front wheels and then drive over it slowly.
WARNING
Observe the important guidelines page 179.
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 damaged. Your vehicle
could break down far away from any assistance.
Even objects that are smaller than the existing 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 the object and thus the vehicle is deflected.For the sake of the environment
Leaking engine oil and brake fluid poll ute the environment and contaminate the
bodies of water. The disposal e.g. of engine oil soaked soil can be costly.
AD
A3
A2
A1
Fig. 157 Observe the ground clearance
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Inspecting and replenishing
204Caution
Never open the bonnet using the locking lever - danger of causing damage.
Ensure that the arms of the windscreen wipers are correctly in place against the
windscreen before opening the bonnet otherwise damage could occur to the
paintwork.
Working in the engine compartment
Particular care is required when carrying out any work in the engine
compartment!There is a risk of injuries, scalding, acci dents and fire when working in the engine
compartment, e.g. inspecting and replenishing oil and other fluids. For this
reason, it is essential to comply with the warning instructions stated below and
with the general applicable rules of safe ty. The engine compartment of your car
is a hazardous area .
WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of the
engine compartment - risk of scalding! Wait long enough until the steam or
coolant has stopped escaping.
Switch off the engine and pull out the ignition key.
Apply the handbrake firmly.
If your vehicle is fitted with a manual gearbox, move the gearshift lever into
Neutral, or if it is fitted with automatic gearbox, move the selector lever into
position P.
Allow the engine to cool down.
Keep children clear of the engine compartment.
Never spill oil and other fluids over the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the anti-
freeze contained in the coolant) may ignite!
Avoid short circuits in the electrical system - particularly on the battery.
Never place your hand into the radiator fan as long as the engine is still
warm. The fan might suddenly start running!
Never open the cap of the coolant expansion bottle as long as the engine is
still warm. The cooling system is pressurized!
Cover over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir with a large cloth
when opening it as protection for your face, hands and arms from hot steam or
hot coolant.
Do not let objects, such as e.g cleaning cloth or tools lie in the engine
compartment.
If you wish to work under the vehicl e, you must secure the vehicle from
rolling away and support it with suitable supporting blocks: the car jack is not
sufficient for this - risk of injury!
In cases where it be necessary to carry out inspection work when the engine
is running there is an additional risk fr om rotating parts (e.g. the V-ribbed belt,
alternator, radiator fan) and from the high-voltage ignition system. Please
observe in addition the following:
Never touch the electrical cabl es of the ignition system.
Absolutely avoid any jewellery, loose it ems of clothing or long hair from
getting into the rotating parts of the engine - Hazard! Therefore remove any
jewellery beforehand, tie up your hair and wear tight fitting clothing.
Please also comply with the warnin g instructions stated below when
carrying out any essential work on the fuel system or on th e electrical system:
Always separate the car battery from the electrical system.
Do not smoke.
Never carry out any work close to naked flames.
Always keep a working fire extinguisher at hand.Caution
When replenishing fluids in the engine, always ensure that the fluids are on no account
mixed up. This may result in major oper ating problems and also vehicle damage!
WARNING (continued)
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Breakdown assistance225
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Changing a wheelPreliminary workThe following steps should be carried ou t before actually changing the wheel.
– If it is necessary to change a wheel, park the vehicle as far away as possible from
the traffic flow. The place you choose should be level.
–Have all the occupants get out. While changing a wheel, the occupants of the
vehicle should not stand on the road (e.g. behind a crash barrier).
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
–Engage 1st gear or if your vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox, position the
selector lever into position P .
– If a trailer is coupled, uncouple it.
–Take the vehicle tool kit page 223 and the spare wheel* page 224 out of the
luggage compartment.
WARNING
If you find yourself in flowing traffic switch on the hazard warning lights
system and place the warning triangle on the side of the road at the prescribed
distance from your vehicle while observing all national legal provisions. In this
way you are protecting not only yourself but also other road users.
Never start the engine with the vehicle si tting on the raised jack - danger of
suffering injury.Caution
If you have to change a wheel on a slope first block the opposite wheel with a stone or
similar object in order to secure the vehicle from unexpectedly rolling away.
Note
Comply with the national legal regulations.
Changing a wheelAlways change a wheel on a level surface as far as possible.
– Take off the full wheel trim* page 226 or the wheel trim cap page 227 or the
caps page 226.
– In the case of light alloy wheels remove the wheel trim cap page 227.
– First of all slacken the safety wheel bolt * and afterwards the other wheel bolts page 227.
– Jack up the vehicle until the wheel to be changed is clear of the ground
page 227.
– Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface (cloth, paper etc.).
– Take off the wheel.
– Fit on the spare wheel and tighten the wheel bolts slightly.
– Lower the car.
– Tighten the wheel bolts firmly, alternatel y and diagonally using the wheel wrench
(crosswise) and last the safety wheel bolt* page 227.
– Mount the full wheel trim/wheel trim cap or the caps.
Note
All bolts must be clean and must turn easily.
You must never grease or oil the wheel bolts!
When fitting on unidirectiona l tyres, ensure that the tyres rotate in the correct
direction page 216.
Subsequent stepsAfter changing the wheel, you mu st perform the following steps.
– Stow and attach the replaced wheel in the spare wheel well using a special screw
page 224, fig. 175.
– Stow the vehicle tool kit in the space provided.
– Check the tyre pressure on the spare wheel just mounted as soon as possible.
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Breakdown assistance
230WARNING
The non-insulated parts of the terminal clamps must never make contact
with each other. Furthermore, the cable connected to the positive terminal of
the battery must not come into contact with electrically conducting parts of the
vehicle - risk of a short circuit!
Do not affix the jump starting cables to the negative terminal of the
discharged battery. There is the risk of detonating gas seeping out the battery
being ignited by the strong spark which results from the engine being started.
Run the jump-start cables so that they cannot be caught by any rotating
parts in the engine compartment.
Do not bend over the batteries - risk of caustic burns!
The vent screws of the battery cells must be tightened firmly.
Keep any sources of ignition (naked flame, smouldering cigarettes etc.)
away from the battery - risk of an explosion!
Never jump-start the batteries which have a too low electrolyte level - risk
of explosion and caustic burns!
Tow-starting and towing vehicleGeneralPlease pay attention to the following instru ctions if you are going to use a tow rope:Driver of the towing vehicle– Do not drive off until the tow rope is taught.
– Release the clutch particularly gently wh en starting off or depress the accelerator
particularly gently if yo ur vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.Driver of the towed vehicle– Switch the ignition on so that the steering wheel is not blocked and you can also
operate the turn signal lights, the headlight flasher, the windscreen wipers and
windscreen washer system. – Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position
N if your
vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
– Note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is running. You will require significantly greater physical force to depress the brake
pedal and to steer the vehicle if the engine is not running.
– Ensure that the tow rope is always kept taught.
Tow rope or tow bar
A tow bar is safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimizes any shocks. You can use
a tow rope only if a suitable tow bar is not available.
The tow rope must be elastic to protect the vehicle. Thus one should only use plastic
fibre rope or a rope made out of a similarly elastic material.
Only attach the tow rope to the towing eyes provided for this purpose page 231
and page 231.
Driving style
Towing another vehicle requires a certain am ount of practice. Both drivers should be
familiar with the particular points about to wing a vehicle. Unskilled drivers should not
attempt to tow in another vehicle or to be towed in.
One should be constantly vigilant not to allow impermissibly high towing forces or
jerky loadings. There is always a risk of excessive stresses and damage resulting at the
points to which you attach the tow rope or tow bar when you attempt to tow a vehicle
which is not standing on a paved road.
Caution
If the gearbox of your vehicle no longer contains any oil because of a defect, your
vehicle must only be towed in with the driven wheels raised clear of the ground, or on
a special vehicle transporter or trailer.
Note
Please comply with any national legal provisions particularly regarding the
switched on signal systems, when towi ng in or tow-starting another vehicle.
The tow rope must not be twisted as it may in certain circumstances result in the
front towing eye being unscrewed out of your vehicle.
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Breakdown assistance231
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Front towing eye
The towing eye is stored in the box for the vehicle tool kit.Fig. 182 Front bumper: Removing the cover / installing the towing eye– Press on the upper half of the cover in direction of arrow fig. 182 .
– Pull the cover out of the front bumper.
– Screw in the towing eye by hand to the left up to the stop fig. 182 - right and
tighten it as much as possible. For ti ghtening, we recommend that you use for
example the wheel wrench*, the lashing eye of another vehicle or a similar object
which you can push through the eye.
– In order to reinstall the cover after screwing out the towing eye, first of all insert the upper part of the cover and then press in the lower part. The cover must engage
firmly.
Caution
The towing eye must always be screwed in fully and firmly tightened, otherwise the
towing eye can tear when to wing in or tow-starting!
Rear towing eyeFig. 183 Rear bumper: Removing the cover / installing the towing eye– Press on the upper half of the cover in direction of arrow fig. 183 .
– Take the cover out of the rear bumper fig. 183 - left.
– Screw in the towing eye by hand to the left up to the stop fig. 183 - right and
tighten it as much as po ssible. For tightening, we recommend that you use for
example the wheel wrench*, the lashing eye of another vehicle or a similar object
which you can push through the eye.
– In order to reinstall the cover after screwing out the towing eye, first of all insert the
upper part of the cover and then press in the lower part. The cover must engage
firmly.
Caution
The towing eye must always be screwed in fully and firmly tightened, otherwise the
towing eye can tear when towing in or tow-starting!Towing in a vehicle fitted with a manual gearboxPlease refer to the additional instructions page 230.
The vehicle can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope or with the front or rear
wheels raised. The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
A1
A1
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Breakdown assistance
232
Towing of a vehicle with an automatic gearboxPlease refer to the additional instructions page 230.
The car can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope. Refer at the same time to the
following guidelines:
Move selector lever into N .
The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
The maximum permissible towing distance is 50 km. The gear oil pump does not
operate when the engine is not running; th e gearbox would not be adequately lubri-
cated at higher speeds and ov er longer towing distance.Caution
If the vehicle is towed in by a recovery vehicle, it should only be towed in with the front
wheels raised. If the vehicle is raised at rear, the automatic gearbox is damaged! (Does
not apply to the automatic gearbox DSG).
Note
The vehicle must be transported on a special vehi cle or trailer if it is not possible to tow
in the vehicle in the way described or if the towing distance is greater than 50 km.Towing a vehicle with four-wheel drivePlease refer to the additional instructions page 230.
The vehicle can be towed in using a tow bar or a tow rope or with the front axle raised.
The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h, the maximum permissible towing distance is
50 km .
Note
The vehicle must be transported on a special vehi cle or trailer if it is not possible to tow
in the vehicle in the way described or if the towing distance is greater than 50 km.s2ug.6.book Page 232 Friday, April 9, 2010 2:24 PM