Off-road fording
Fording depth
:must not exceed 30 cm
when the vehicle is loaded and ready to drive.
Loaded and ready to drive means: a full tank,
all fluids topped up and the driver is in the
vehicle.
! The water depth must not exceed 30 cm.
Note that the possible fording depth is less
in flowing water.
R establish how deep the water is and the
characteristics of the body of water before
fording.
R restrict the shift range to 1or 2.
R avoid high engine speeds.
R enter and exit the water at a flat place and
at a steady walking pace.
! Under no circumstances should you
accelerate before entering the water. The
bow wave could cause water to enter and
damage the engine and neighbouring
assemblies.
R drive slowly and at a constant speed
through the water.
R do not stop.
! Do not open any of the vehicle's doors
while fording. Otherwise, water could get
into the vehicle interior and damage the
vehicle's electronics and interior equip-
ment.
R water offers a high degree of resistance,
the ground is slippery and, in some cases, unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and dan-
gerous to pull away in the water.
R ensure that a bow wave does not form as
you drive.
R clean any mud from the tyre tread after
fording.
R apply the brakes to dry them after fording. Winter driving
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
This increases the risk of skidding and having
an accident.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open
a window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y page 352).
Driving with summer tyres Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y
page 352). Driving tips
169Driving and parking Z
Have service work carried out as described
in the Service Booklet. This may otherwise
lead to increased wear and damage to the
major assemblies or the vehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre, will reset the
ASSYST PLUS service interval display after
the service work has been carried out. You
can also obtain further information on main-
tenance work, for example.
Special service requirements
Arduous operating conditions or increased
loads on the vehicle will require some service
work to be performed more often than for a
vehicle in normal use. Such arduous condi-
tions include regular city driving with frequent
intermediate stops and use in mountainous
terrain or on poor road surfaces.
For example, if the vehicle is used under ardu-
ous operating conditions, have air filters,
engine oil and oil filters changed frequently
and check the wheels often. Further informa-
tion can be obtained at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. The
Service Hotline's current telephone numbers
for use when you are abroad are to be found
in the "Mercedes-Benz Service24h" section
of the Service Booklet. AdBlue
®
service display
i For BlueTEC vehicles only.
To function properly, BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment must be operated with the
reducing agent AdBlue ®
. AdBlue ®
is topped
up as part of the service. Under normal oper-
ating conditions, a full tank of AdBlue ®
should
last until the next service due date.
Depending on how and where the vehicle is
used, there may be an increase in the AdBlue
®
consumption, resulting in the next
service due date being brought forward.
Certain display messages show that
AdBlue ®
must be topped up, e.g.
Refill AdBlue at workshop See Own‐
Refill AdBlue at workshop See Own‐
er's Manual er's Manual
Refill AdBlue at workshop No start Refill AdBlue at workshop No start
in .. km in .. km
A warning tone also sounds.
You can no longer start the engine when the
AdBlue ®
supply has been used up.
R 4-button multifunction steering wheel
(Y page 266)
R 12-button multifunction steering wheel
(Y page 269)
! Have the AdBlue ®
tank topped up at a
qualified specialist workshop only. The
vehicle may otherwise be damaged or
soiled.
Before taking a trip with your vehicle outside
Europe, have the AdBlue ®
supply checked at
a qualified specialist workshop. If necessary,
have AdBlue ®
topped up. Before a longer stay
outside of Europe, consult a qualified special-
ist workshop.
Observe the notes on AdBlue ®
(Y page 368).
You can obtain further information about
BlueTEC exhaust gas aftertreatment and
AdBlue ®
from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre. Engine compartment
Bonnet
Opening the bonnet G
WARNING
Do not pull the release lever while the vehicle
is in motion. If you do so, the bonnet may open
up and block your view. Engine compartment
313Maintenance and care Z
tions can be avoided by refuelling with diesel
fuel that corresponds to the climatic specifi-
cations outlined in EN 590. At unusually low
outside temperatures, it is possible that the
flow characteristics of the diesel fuel could be
insufficient. Accordingly, diesel fuel from
warmer areas may not be suitable for opera-
tion in colder climatic conditions.
i Further information on country-specific
fuel properties can be obtained from oil
companies, e.g. at filling stations.
Flow improvers
Flow improvers can be added to improve the
cold resistance of diesel fuel. The effective-
ness of flow improvers cannot be guaranteed
with all fuels.
Only use flow improvers tested and approved
by Mercedes-Benz. During use, please
observe the information on operation.
Correct dosage and thorough mixing are deci-
sive factors in ensuring improvement in low-
temperature resistance. Under certain cir-
cumstances, an excessive dosage may
actually decrease low-temperature resist-
ance and should therefore be avoided. Follow
the manufacturer's dosing instructions.
Mix the additive into the diesel in good time,
before the flow characteristics of the diesel
become insufficient. Otherwise, malfunctions
can only be rectified by heating the entire fuel
system, e.g. by parking in a heated garage.
More information about recommended flow
improvers can be obtained from any qualified
specialist workshop.
Fuel consumption information H
Environmental note
CO 2(carbon dioxide) is the gas which scien-
tists believe to be principally responsible for
global warming (the greenhouse effect). Your
vehicle's CO 2emissions are directly related to
fuel consumption and therefore depend on: R
efficient use of the fuel by the engine
R driving style
R other non-technical factors, such as envi-
ronmental influences or road conditions
You can minimise your vehicle's CO 2emis-
sions by driving carefully and having it serv-
iced regularly.
The vehicle will use more fuel than usual in
the following situations:
R at very low outside temperatures
R in urban traffic
R on short journeys
R in mountainous terrain
R when towing a trailer
i Only for certain countries: you can find
the current consumption and emission val-
ues of your vehicle in the COC documents
(EU CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY). These
documents are delivered with your vehicle.
The consumption figures were in each case
based on the currently applicable version:
R for vehicles that comply with standards
up to and including the EURO 4 standard,
in accordance with EU Directive
80/1268/EEC
R for vehicles that comply with or exceed
the EURO 5 standard, in accordance with
Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007
Deviations from these values may occur
under normal operating conditions. AdBlue
®
General notes AdBlue
®
is a non-flammable, non-toxic, col-
ourless, odourless and water-soluble fluid.
High outside temperatures G
WARNING
If you open the AdBlue ®
tank cap, small
amounts of ammonia vapour may be released. 368
Service products and capacitiesTechnical data