Driving Tips
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Intelligent Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Electronic stability programme (ESP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Brake booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Antilock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Uphill Start Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Electrohydraulic power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Tyre pressure monitoring system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Diesel particle filter (diesel engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Driving and the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
The first 1 500 kilometres and afterwards . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Driving in an economical and environmentally
conscious manner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Environmental compatibility
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Motoring abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Avoiding damage to your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Driving through bodies of water on roads . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
General Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the
vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Care of the exterior of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Care of the interior of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Inspecting and Replenishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Windshield washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Wheels and Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts . 169
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Breakdown assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Breakdown assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
First-aid box and warning triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Fire extinguisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Vehicle tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Spare wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Tyre repair kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
The vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Fuses and light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Electric fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Used abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Identification details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Fuel consumption according to the ECE standards and
EU guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Dimensions
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Engine oil specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Engine 1.2 l/44 kW - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Engine 1.2 l/51 kW - EU5/EU2 DDK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Engine 1.2 l/63 kW TSI - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Engine 1.2 l/77 kW TSI - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Engine 1.4 l/63 kW - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Engine 1.6 l/77 kW - EU4, EU2 DDK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Engine 1.4 l/132 kW TSI - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Engine 1.2 l/55 kW TDI CR DPF - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Engine 1.6 l/55 kW TDI CR - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Engine 1.6 l/66 kW TDI CR - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Engine 1.6 l/77 kW TDI CR - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2084
Table of Contents
The fuel tank has a capacity of about 45 litres. The warning symbol in the in-
strument cluster lights up when the pointer reaches the reserve marking. There
are now about 7 litres of fuel remaining in the tank. This symbol is a reminder for
you, that you must refuel
.
The following is displayed in the information display: Please refuel! (Please refuel!)
An audible signal sounds as an additional warning signal.
On some vehicles, the fuel gauge is shown in the display of the instrument clus-
ter. CAUTION
Never run the fuel tank completely empty! An irregular supply of fuel can lead to
irregular engine running. Unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and dam-
age the catalytic converter.
Counter for distance driven The counter for the distance driven is located in the bottom area of the display.
The distance which you have driven with your vehicle is shown in kilometres (km).
In some countries the measuring unit
“
mile” is used.
Reset button
If you hold the reset button 6 ⇒
fig. 2
pressed for about 1 second, the trip counter
is set back to zero.
Trip counter for distance driven
The trip counter indicates the distance which you have driven since this counter
was last reset - in steps of 100 metres or 1/10 of a mile.
Counter for distance driven
The counter for distance driven indicates the total distance in kilometers or miles
which the vehicle has been driven.
Fault display
If there is a fault in the instrument cluster Error will appear continuously in the
display. Have the fault rectified as soon as possible by a specialist workshop. WARNING
Never seek to adjust the trip counter for distance driven while driving for
safety reasons! Note
If vehicles which are fitted with the information display the display of the second
speed is activated in mph or km/h, this driving speed is indicated instead of the
counter for the total distance driven.
Service reminder indicator Fig. 3 Service Interval Display: Note
Depending on the equipment installed in the vehicle, the text can differ on the
display.
Service Interval Display
Before the next service interval a key symbol and the remaining kilometres are
indicated after switching on the ignition ⇒ fig. 3. At the same time, a display ap-
pears regarding the remaining days until the next service interval.
The following is displayed in the information display:
Service after ... km or... days. (Service after ... km or ... days.)
The kilometre indicator or the days indicator reduces in steps of 100 km. or days
until the service due date is reached.
A flashing key symbol and the text Service appears in the display for 20 sec-
onds as soon as the due date for the service is reached.
The following is displayed in the information display:
Service now! (Service now!) £12
Instruments and warning lights
3
- start engine
Applies to all models:
Position 1 To
lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel un-
til 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 2 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
3 The engine is started in this position. At the same time switched on low beam or
main beam or other electrical components with major power consumption are
briefly switched off. The ignition key moves back into position
2 when one relea-
ses the key.
The ignition key must be turned back into position 1 each time before starting
the engine again. The starter repeat lock in the ignition lock prevents the starter
being engaged when the engine is running and thus getting damaged. WARNING
● When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position 2 (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 wheel - risk of accident!
● Do not withdraw the ignition key from the lock until the car has come to a
stop. The steering lock can engage immediately - risk of accident!
● Always withdraw the ignition key if you 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 engine or operate electrical
equipment (e.g. power windows) - risk of injury! Starting the engine
General 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 posi-
tion 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 which
means that the starter 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 another vehicle as a jump-start aid ⇒ page 178. WARNING
● Never run the engine in non ventilated or enclosed areas. The exhaust
gases of the engine contain besides the odorless and colourless carbon mon-
oxide a poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness
and death.
● Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running. CAUTION
● The starter may only be operated (ignition key position 3 ), if the engine is not
running. If the starter is immediately operated after switching off the engine, the
starter or the engine can be damaged.
● Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as long as
the engine has not yet reached its normal operating temperature - risk of damag-
ing the engine!
● Do not tow start the engine - danger of damaging the engine. On vehicles with
a catalytic converter, unburnt fuel may get into the catalytic converter where it
may ignite. This in turn may damage or destroy the catalytic converter. You can
use the battery of another vehicle as a jump-start aid ⇒ page 178, Jump-starting.£ 83
Starting-off and Driving Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data
●
Press button ⇒ fig. 119
for more than 2 seconds. While pressing the but-
ton, the warning light lights up. At the same time the memory of the system is
erased and the new calibration is started, which is confirmed with an audible sig-
nal and then the warning light goes out.
● If the warning light does not go out after the basic setting, there is a fault in
the system. Have the vehicle inspected by your nearest specialist garage.
Warning light lights up
If the tyre inflation pressure of at least one wheel is insufficiently inflated in com-
parison to the stored basic value, the warning light ⇒ lights up.
Warning light flashes
If the warning light flashes, there is a system fault. Have the vehicle inspected by
your nearest specialist garage. WARNING
● When the warning light lights up, immediately reduce the speed and
avoid sudden steering and brake manoeuvres. Please stop the vehicle without
delay at the nearest possible stop and inspect the tyres and their inflation
pressures.
● The driver is responsible for the correct tyre inflation pressures. For this
reason, the tyre inflation pressures must be checked regularly.
● Under certain circumstances (e.g. sporty style of driving, wintry or unpaved
roads) the warning light can be delayed or does not light up at all.
● The tyre pressure monitoring system does not take away the responsibility
from the driver for the correct tyre inflation pressure. Note
The tyre pressure monitoring system:
● does not replace the regular tyre inflation pressure control, because the sys-
tem cannot detect an even pressure loss,
● cannot warn in case of very rapid tyre inflation pressure loss, e.g. in case of
sudden tyre damage. In this case carefully bring the vehicle to a standstill without
sudden steering movements and without sharp braking.
● In order to ensure a proper functioning of the tyre inflation pressure-control
system, it is necessary to carry out the basic setting again every 10 000 km or 1x a
year. Diesel particle filter (diesel engine) In the diesel particle filter the resulting soot particles are collected
and burnt during the combustion of diesel fuel.
Fig. 120 Vehicle data sticker
Code 7GG , 7MB or 7MG on the vehicle data sticker, see ⇒ fig. 120, indicates that
your vehicle is equipped with a diesel particle filter. The vehicle data sticker is lo-
cated on the floor of the luggage compartment and is also stated in the Service
schedule.
The diesel particle filter filters the soot particles completely from the exhaust. The
soot is collected in the diesel particle filter and burnt regularly. To assist this pro-
cedure, we recommend not to drive regularly over short distances.
If the diesel particle filter is full or there is a fault, it is indicated by the warning
light
. WARNING
● The diesel particle filter achieves very high temperatures. Therefore do not
park at points where the hot filter comes into direct contact with dry grass or
other combustible materials - risk of fire!
● Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents
for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filter or heat shields.
When the engine reaches its operating temperature, these materials might ig-
nite – risk of fire. Note
When using diesel fuel with high sulphur content the life of the diesel particle fil-
ter is clearly reduced. A specialist garage will be able to tell you which countries
use only diesel fuel with high sulphur content. 134
Intelligent Technology
Driving and the Environment
The first 1 500 kilometres and afterwards
New engine The engine has to be run in during the first 1 500 kilometres.
Up to 1 000 kilometres
– Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the mamimum speed of the gear in use, that is
3/4 of the maximum permissible engine speed.
– Do not use full throttle.
– Avoid high engine revolutions.
– Do not tow a trailer.
From 1 000 up to 1 500 kilometres
– Increase the power output of the engine gradually up to the full speed of the
gear engaged, that is up to the maximum permissible engine revolutions.
During the first operating hours the engine has higher internal friction than later
until all of the moving parts have harmonized. The driving style which you adopt
during the first approx.1 500 kilometres plays a decisive part in the success of run-
ning in your car.
You should not drive at unnecessarily high engine revolutions even after the run-
ning-in period is complete. The maximum permissible engine speed is marked by
the beginning of the red zone on the scale of the revolutions counter. Shift up in-
to the next higher gear on a vehicle fitted with manual gearbox before the red
zone is reached. During acceleration (depressing the accelerator) exceptionally
high engine speeds are automatically reduced, yet the engine is not protected
against too high engine speeds which are caused by incorrectly shifting down the
gears resulting in a sudden increase of the engine speeds above the permitted
maximum revolutions which can lead to engine damage.
For a vehicle fitted with a manual gearbox the converse situation also applies: Do
not drive at engine revolutions which are too low. Shift down as soon as the en-
gine is no longer running smoothly. CAUTION
All the speed and engine revolution figures apply only when the engine is at its
normal operating temperature. Never rev up an engine which is cold, neither when
the vehicle is stationary nor when driving in individual gears. For the sake of the environment
Not driving at unnecessarily high engine revolutions and shifting to a higher gear
as early as possible are ways to minimise fuel consumption and operating noise
levels and protects the environment.
New tyres New tyres have to be “run in” since they do not offer optimal grip at first. You
should take account of this fact for the first 500 kilometres and drive particularly
carefully.
New brake pads Allow for the fact that new brake pads do not achieve their full braking efficiency
until approximately 200 kilometres. New brake pads must be first
“run in
” before
they develop their optimal friction force. You can, however, compensate for this
slightly reduced braking force by increasing the pressure on the brake pedal.
This guideline also applies to any new brake pads installed at a future date.
During the running-in period, you should avoid excessive stresses on the brakes.
This includes, for example, violent braking, particularly from very high speeds, and
also when crossing mountain passes.
Catalytic converter Proper operation of the emission control system (catalytic convert-
er) is of major significance for driving your vehicle in an environ-
mentally conscious way.
Please refer to the following guidelines: £ 135
Driving and the Environment Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data
–
For vehicles with petrol engine only refuel with unleaded petrol ⇒ page 150,
Unleaded 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 156, Replenishing engine oil
.
If you drive your vehicle in a country in which unleaded petrol is not available, you
must have the catalytic converter replaced later when driving the vehicle into a
country in which use of a catalytic 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 converter, never let the fuel tank run com-
pletely empty. An irregular fuel supply can result in poor ignition or misfiring. Un-
burnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and damage the catalytic converter.
● Filling the tank even only once with leaded petrol will result in the catalytic
converter being destroyed.
● If you detect misfiring, 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 may 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 properly, a sulphur-like exhaust odour
may be produced under certain operating conditions of the engine. This depends
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 manner
General 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 eco-
nomical 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 be-
yond the driver's control. It is, for example, normal for the fuel consumption to in-
crease in winter and under worsened conditions such as poor road conditions,
towing a trailer, etc.
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the ve-
hicle have already been built into the vehicle at the works. Special attention has
been given to minimising negative effects on the environment. It is necessary to
take note of the guidelines given in this chapter in order to make best use of
these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness.
The optimal engine speed should be obtained when accelerating, in order to avoid
a high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.
Looking ahead when driving A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs it accelerates.
Avoid accelerating and braking unnecessarily. If you drive with forsight you will
not need to brake so often and will also then not have to accelerate so much. Let
your vehicle coast to a stop, for example, if this is possible, when you see that the
next set of traffic lights is at red. 136
Driving and the Environment
Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine uses 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 only 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 consid-
erable extent on the load and speed of the engine. 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 new engine has a higher oil consumption at first, and rea-
ches its lowest level only after a certain running in time. It is therefore not possi-
ble to correctly assess the oil consumption of a new 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 car at regular intervals to detect any leakages in
good time. Please have your vehicle inspected by a specialist garge if you find any
stains caused by oil or other fluids on the floor. Avoid driving short distances Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption.
Fig. 123 Fuel consumption in litres/100
km at different temperatures
– Avoid driving a distance of no more than 4 km if the engine is cold.
The engine and catalytic converter must first have reached their optimal operat-
ing temperature in order to effectively reduce fuel consumption and pollutant
emissions.
The cold engine vehicle consumes approx. 15 - 20 litres/100 km of fuel immediate-
ly after starting. Fuel consumption drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre.
The engine reaches its operating temperature (outside temperature and engine
dependent) only after about 4 to 10 kilometres and the fuel consumption then
stabilizes. You should therefore avoid driving short distances whenever possible.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The
⇒ fig. 123 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance, on the
one hand at +20°C and on the other hand at -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 wear and the driving behaviour
will worsen.
Always check the inflation pressure of the tyres when cold. £138
Driving and the Environment
Driving through bodies of water on roads
Fig. 124 Crossing bodies of water
In order to avoid damage to the vehicle when driving through bodies of water (e.g.
flooded roads), observe the following:
● Determine the depth of the water when driving through bodies of water. The
water can reach at the maximum the web on the lower sill of the vehicle
⇒ fig. 124.
● 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 induc-
tion 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 per-
mit this. Do not place any other road users in jeopardy. CAUTION
● When driving through bodies of water, parts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, catalytic converter, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.
● Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permissi-
ble water level for your vehicle. ●
Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water making it difficult or im-
possible 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. 141
Driving and the Environment Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data