
269
Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Driving with insufficient fuel reserve could result in the vehicle breaking
down in traffic and a serious accident.
● If the fuel level is too low then the fuel supply to the engine can be-
come irregular especially on slopes.
● If the engine “is choked” or stalls due to lack of or irregularity of the
fuel supply, the power steering as well as all of the driver assistance sys-
tems including braking assistance will stop working.
● Always refuel when there is only one quarter of the fuel tank left to
avoid running out of fuel.
CAUTION
● Always pay attention to any lit control lamps and to the corresponding
descriptions and instructions to avoid damage to the vehicle.
● Never run the fuel tank completely dry. An irregular fuel supply may lead
to ignition faults and unburnt fuel could enter the exhaust system. This
could damage the catalytic converter filter or the diesel particulate filter!
Note
The arrow next to the fuel pump symbol on the instrument panel ⇒ Fig. 164
indicates the side of the vehicle on which the tank flap is located. Filling the tank with petrol or diesel
Fig. 165 Open tank flap
with tank cap attached to
the holder
Before refuelling, always turn off the engine, the ignition, mobile tele-
phones, auxiliary heating and keep them off during refuelling.
Opening the fuel tank flap
● The tank flap is at the rear of the vehicle on the right.
● Press the rear of the tank flap to open it.
● Unscrew the tank cap anticlockwise and insert it in the hole in the tank
flap hinge ⇒ Fig. 165.
Refuelling
The correct petrol type for the vehicle is located on a sticker inside the fuel
tank flap ⇒ page 270.
● If the automatic filler nozzle is operated correctly, it will switch itself off
as soon as the fuel tank is full
⇒
.
● Do not continue to refuel if it is turned off! Otherwise, this will fill the ex-
pansion chamber and fuel may leak out if the ambient conditions are warm.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

343
If and when
WARNING (Continued)
● Observe the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the jump
leads.
● Do not connect the negative cable from the other vehicle directly to
the negative terminal of the flat battery. The gas emitted from the battery
could be ignited by sparks. Danger of explosion.
● Do not attach the negative cable from the other vehicle to parts of the
fuel system or to the brake line.
● The non-insulated parts of the battery clamps must not be allowed to
touch. The jump lead attached to the positive battery terminal must not
touch metal parts of the vehicle, this can cause a short circuit.
● Position the leads in such a way that they cannot come into contact
with any moving parts in the engine compartment.
● Do not lean on the batteries. This could result in chemical burns.
Note
The vehicles must not touch each other, otherwise electricity could flow as
soon as the positive terminals are connected.
Towing and tow starting Introduction
When towing, always respect legal requirements.
For technical reasons, it is not possible to tow a vehicle if the battery is flat.
Additional information and warnings:
● Electronic power control and exhaust gases purification system
⇒ page 231
WARNING
A vehicle with a flat battery should never be towed.
● Never remove the key from the ignition lock. The electronic steering
lock could engage. Then the vehicle will be uncontrollable. You may lose
control of the vehicle and there is a risk of serious accident.
WARNING
When towing the vehicle, the handling and braking efficiency change
considerably. Please observe the following instructions to minimise the
risk of serious accidents and injury:
● As the driver of the vehicle being towed:
– The brake must be depressed must harder as the brake servo does
not operate. Always remain aware to avoid collision with the towing
vehicle.
– More strength is required at the steering wheel as the power steer-
ing does not operate when the engine is switched off.
● As the driver of the towing vehicle:
– Accelerate gently and carefully.
– Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
– Brake well in advance than usual and brake gently.
CAUTION
● Carefully fit and remove the towline anchorage and its cover to avoid
damage to the vehicle (for example, paintwork).
● When towing, fuel could enter the catalytic converter and cause dam-
age!
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

345
If and when
Note
The vehicle can only be towed if the electronic parking brake and steering
lock are deactivated. If the vehicle has no power supply or there is an elec-
tric system fault, the engine must be started using jump leads to deactivate
the electronic parking brake and electronic steering lock.
Fitting the front towline anchorage
Fig. 220 On the right-
hand side of the front
bumper: Screw in the
towline anchorage
The location for the removable towline anchorage is on the right-hand side
of the front bumper ⇒ Fig. 220.
The towline anchorage should always be kept in the vehicle.
Note the instructions for towing ⇒ page 344.
To fit the towline anchorage
● Take the towline anchorage from the vehicle tool kit
⇒ page 323.
● Press on the upper cover and carefully remove it forwards. Allow the cov-
er to hang. ●
Screw in the towline anchorage into its position anticlockwise as far as
it will go ⇒ Fig. 220 ⇒
. Use a suitable tool to firmly tighten the towline
anchorage in its location.
● After towing, remove the towline anchorage by turning it clockwise and
put the cover back in place.
CAUTION
The towline anchorage must always be completely and firmly tightened.
Otherwise, it could be released while towing and tow-starting.
Fitting the rear towline anchorage
Fig. 221 On the rear
bumper, to the right hand
side: Tow ring in position
The location for the removable towline anchorage is on the right-hand side
of the rear bumper ⇒ Fig. 221. For vehicles with a factory fitted towing brack-
et, there is no fitting behind the cover to insert the towline anchorage. For
towing, fit and use the tow hitch ⇒ page 236, ⇒
.
Note the instructions for towing ⇒ page 344.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

346If and when
Fitting the towline anchorage to the rear for vehicles without factory fitted
tow hitch
● Take the towline anchorage from the vehicle tool kit in the luggage com-
partment ⇒ page 323.
● Press on the upper cover and carefully remove it back. This may require
some strength. Allow the cover to hang.
● Screw in the towline anchorage into its position anticlockwise as far as
it will go ⇒
. Use a suitable tool to firmly tighten the towline anchorage in
its location.
● After towing, remove the towline anchorage by turning it clockwise and
put the cover back in place.
CAUTION
● The towline anchorage must always be completely and firmly tightened.
Otherwise, it could be released while towing and tow-starting.
● Vehicles with a factory fitted towing bracket, can only be used for towing
with a tow bar, specially designed to fit on a tow hitch ball. Otherwise, the
tow hitch ball and the vehicle may be damaged. Otherwise, a tow rope
should be used.
Towing advice
Towing requires some experience, especially when using a tow rope. Both
drivers should be familiar with the technique required for towing. For this
reason, inexperienced drivers should abstain.
While driving, avoid excessive traction forces and jerking. When towing on
an unpaved road, there is always a risk of overloading and damaging the
anchorage points.
If the vehicle is towed, with the hazard warning lights on and the ignition
switched on, the turn signal may be used to indicate changes of direction.
Simply operate the turn signal lever as usual. Meanwhile, the hazard warn- ing lights will go off. When the turn signal lever is returned to the rest posi-
tion, the hazard warning lights will be turned on automatically.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
●
Leave the ignition on to avoid locking the steering wheel, to release the
electronic parking brake and to activate the turn signals, the horn as well as
the window wipers and window washers.
● As the power assisted steering does not work if the engine is not run-
ning, you will need more strength to steer than normally.
● The brake must be depressed must harder as the brake servo does not
operate. Avoid hitting the towing vehicle.
● Note the instructions and information contained in the Instruction Man-
ual for the vehicle to be towed.
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
● Accelerate gently and carefully. Avoid sudden manoeuvres.
● Brake well in advance than usual and brake gently.
● Note the instructions and information contained in the Instruction Man-
ual for the vehicle to be towed.

Sliding doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80Childproof lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Opening and closing electrically . . . . . . . . . 81
Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304, 350 All-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Spanner symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Spare fuel canister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Spare parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Special features Automatic car wash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Folding exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
High pressure cleaning equipment . . . . . . 247
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184, 188, 366
Pushing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Radio reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Removing the vehicle key . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Washing the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Windscreen wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Special notes High-pressure cleaning system . . . . . . . . . 238
Long parking times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343, 344
Tow starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Specifications Combined weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Drawbar load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Trailer weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Specific notes Electric sliding doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Spectacle case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Speed rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Stabilising the vehicle and trailer combina- tion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 Start-Stop function
Driving with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Start-Stop Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Start assist See "Start assist systems" . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Starting assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Jump leads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Positive pole on the starting assistancepoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Starting using an external battery See Starting assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Steering Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Counter steering assistance system . . . . . 169
Electromechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Steering column lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Tendency to pull to one side . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Steering wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Rocker switches (Tiptronic) . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Storage compartment on the roof console . . . 143
Storage compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Glove compartment lighting . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Sudden braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Sun blind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Anti-trap function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Sun blinds Rear side windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Sun visor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Symbols
See "Lamps" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
System Automatic dipped beam control . . . . . . . . . 98
Systems ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Adaptive headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 190
ASR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191, 192
Auto Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
BAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Brake assist system (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Braking assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
EDL and XDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Electronic differential lock system (EDL andXDS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . 190
ESC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Lane Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Lane Assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Launch-Control Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Optical parking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Park Assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Parking sensor system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Rear Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Rear assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Sign Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Start-Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Start assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
379
Index