109
Lights and visibility
Rear vision mirrors
Interior rear vision mirror with manual anti-dazzle
adjustment
Basic settings
– Push the lever at the bottom of the mirror away from you.
Rear vision mirror anti-dazzle setting
– Pull the lever at the bottom of the mirror towards you.
Exterior mirrors
Fig. 68 Door interior: ad-
juster knob
Before beginning any journey, adjust the rear vision mirrors for cor-
rect rear visibility.
Heated rear vision mirrors*
– Turn the knob to position ⇒ Fig. 68. Electrically adjusting the left-hand exterior mirror*
–
Turn the knob to position ⇒ Fig. 68. The mirror movements are
the same as those of the knob.
Electrically adjusting the right-hand exterior mirror*
– Turn the knob to position ⇒ Fig. 68. The mirror movements are
the same as those of the knob.
WARNING
● Convex (wide-angle) rear vision mirrors give a larger field of vision.
However, they make objects appear smaller and further away than they
really are. For this reason, you should not rely on these rear vision mir-
rors for judging the distance of vehicle behind.
● If possible, use the interior rear vision mirror to estimate distances to
vehicles behind you.
Note
● Exterior mirrors are only heated when the engine is running.
● Do not touch the exterior mirrors when the heating system is running.
● If the electrical adjustment should ever fail to operate, the rear vision
mirrors can be adjusted by hand by pressing the edge of the mirror glass.
● Visit the technical service in the event of a fault in the electrical rear vi-
sion mirror adjustment system.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
112Seats and storage
Heated front seats*
Fig. 71 Heated front
seats
The cushion and backrest of the front seats can be heated electri-
cally.
Press the
or ⇒
Fig. 71 button to switch on and adjust the
heated front seats.
Press once to connect the heating at maximum force.
Press the button again to reduce the force of the heating and
switch it off. The force is indicated by the number of warning lamps
lit on the button.
WARNING
Do not use the heated seat if your perception of pain and/or temperature
or that of your passenger is limited, e.g. due to medication, paralysis or
chronic illness (e.g. diabetes). It could cause burns on the back, buttocks
and legs that are difficult to heal. If you still want to use the heated seat,
take frequent breaks on long journeys so that the body can recover from
the trip. Ask you doctor about your particular situation.
CAUTION
● To avoid damaging the heating elements, do not kneel on the seat or
apply sharp pressure at a single point to the seat cushion or backrest.
● Do not use the heated seats if nobody is sitting on them or if there are
items attached to or lying on them, such as a child seat or a bag, etc. This
could lead to a fault in the seat heating elements.
● Do not clean the seats with liquid ⇒ page 177.
Note
● Only connect the heated seats when the engine is running. This pro-
vides considerable savings on the battery capacity.
● In the event of a drop in voltage in the onboard systems, the heated
seats switch off automatically to ensure enough power to control the engine
⇒ page 194, Automatic disconnection of electrical equipment.
Head restraints
Fig. 72 Head restraints: adjusting/removing head restraints
122Seats and storage
WARNING
● Take care when using the cigarette lighter! Carelessness or negli-
gence when using the cigarette lighter can cause burns and serious inju-
ries.
● The cigarette lighter also works when the ignition is off and when the
ignition key is removed. Therefore, never leave children unsupervised in
the vehicle.
Note
● The 12 volt power socket of the cigarette lighter can also be used as a
power source for electrical appliances ⇒ page 122, 12 V power socket.
● Additional information ⇒ page 204, Accessories, modifications and
spare parts.
12 V power socket
Fig. 86 Centre console:
12V power socket
The 12 V power socket is located at the front of the centre console
⇒ Fig. 86. Using the power socket
–
Open the cover or remove the cigarette lighter concealing the
socket.
– Insert the plug of the electrical appliance into the socket.
Additional information ⇒ page 204, Accessories, modifications and spare
parts.
WARNING
● Improper use of the sockets or electrical appliances can cause a fire
and lead to burns and other serious injuries.
● Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. The 12 volt power
socket is also operate when the is ignition switched off and the key re-
moved.
● Should the connected appliance overheat, immediately switch it off
and disconnect it from the socket.
CAUTION
● The 12V power socket can only be used to power appliances with a pow-
er rating of up to 120 Watt.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted power, as this could cause dam-
age to the vehicle electrical installation.
● When the engine is switched off, however, the vehicle battery will be
drained. Risk of flat battery!
● Only use suitable plugs so as not to damage the power socket.
● Only use appliances that have been tested for electromagnetic compati-
bility in compliance with current regulations.
● Before switching the ignition on or off, unplug the appliances from the
power socket to protect them from any damage caused by fluctuations in
voltage.
● Follow the instructions for use of connected appliances!
128Heating and air conditioning
Heating and air conditioning
Heating and air conditioning General notes
The power of the heating depends on the temperature of the coolant. There-
fore, maximum power is only obtained when the engine has reached operat-
ing temperature.
The temperature and the humidity of the air is reduced when the system
cools the interior of the vehicle. This therefore increases the comfort of all
vehicle occupants when outside temperatures and humidity are high. It also
helps prevent the windows from misting over during cold periods of the
year.
The air recirculation system can be switched on temporarily to increase the
cooling effect.
Keep the air intake slots in front of the windscreen clear of ice, snow or
leaves to ensure unimpaired heating and cooling.
When the air conditioning is on, condensation can drip from the evaporator
in the air cooling system and form a pool underneath the vehicle. This is
normal and does not indicate a leak!
WARNING
● All windows must be clear of ice, snow and condensation for driving
safety. Therefore, make sure you familiarise yourself with the correct use
of heating and ventilation, window demisting and defrosting and cooling.
● Never use the air recirculation system for too long, as it prevents
fresh air from entering the vehicle and “used” air can cause tiredness, re-
duce your attention span and cause the windows to mist over. This in-
creases the risk of an accident. Switch off the air recirculation system as
soon as the windows begin to mist over.
Note
● Used air escapes through ventilation slots in the rear of the luggage
compartment.
● Smoking is not recommended while the air recirculation system is in
use, as the smoke drawn from the interior of the vehicle settles in the evap-
orator of the air conditioning system. This causes a persistent, unpleasant
smell while the system is running that is time-consuming and expensive
(evaporator replacement) to eliminate.
● Never cover the air outlets to ensure the system operates correctly.
Economic use of the air conditioning system
When the air conditioning is switched on, the compressor consumes engine
power and has influence on fuel consumption.
If the vehicle interior has overheated due to an excessive solar radiation, it
is best to open the windows or doors to allow the hot air to escape.
129
Heating and air conditioning
While in motion, the air conditioning should not be switched on if the win-
dows are open.
If the interior temperature can be reached without switching on the air con-
ditioning, the fresh air mode should be used.
For the sake of the environment
This saves on fuel and reduces emissions.
Faults
If the air conditioning does not work at outside temperatures above +5 °C
(+41 °F) then the system is faulty. This may be due to one of the following
reasons:
● One of the fuses has blown. Check the fuse and replace if necessary
⇒ page 219.
● The air conditioning compressor has switched off temporarily because
of an increased engine coolant temperature ⇒ page 58.
If you cannot repair the fault yourself or where the cooling power continues
to drop, switch the system off. Contact a specialised service. Air ventsFig. 96 Air vents
Opening air vents 3 and 4
– Turn the vertical circular control upwards.
Closing air vents 3 and 4
– Turn the vertical circular control downwards.
Changing the direction of air delivery from air vents 3 and 4
– The air circulation height can be varied by changing the posi-
tion of the sliding adjuster upwards or downwards ⇒ Fig. 96.
– The air circulation direction can be varied by changing the posi-
tion of the sliding adjuster to the right or to the left.
The flow of air from the vents is controlled using control C
⇒ Fig. 97. Vents
3 ⇒ Fig. 96 and 4 can be opened and closed individually.
Depending on the position of the adjusters and on the weather, open vents
can provide air which is either heated, unheated or cooled.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
132Heating and air conditioning
WARNING
Never use the air recirculation system for too long, as it prevents fresh air
from entering the vehicle and “used” air can cause tiredness, reduce your
attention span and cause the windows to mist over. This increases the
risk of an accident. Switch off the air recirculation system as soon as the
windows begin to mist over.
Air conditioning (manual)* General notes
The air cooling system only works if the AC button
2 ⇒ Fig. 98
⇒ page 132 is pressed and under following conditions:
● The engine is running
● the outside temperature is above +2 °C (+36 °F)
● The blower control is in position 1 – 4
When the cooling system is on and under certain conditions, air can be
blown from the vents at a temperature of approx. +5 °C (+41 °F). In the
event of prolonged, irregular distribution of the air flow from the outlets and
significant differences in temperature, e.g. on leaving the vehicle, sensitive
people may catch a cold.
Note
A visit to the specialised service once a year is recommended to clean the
air conditioning system. Operation
Fig. 98 Air conditioning: controls
Temperature selection
– Turn rotary control A
⇒ Fig. 98 clockwise to increase the tem-
perature.
– Turn rotary control A
anti-clockwise to reduce the temperature.
Blower selection
– Turn rotary control B
⇒ Fig. 98 to position 1 to 4 to switch the
blower on.
– Turn rotary control B
to position 0 to switch the blower off.
– Press button
1 ⇒ page 134, Air recirculation to close the
fresh air vent.
Air distribution selection
– Turn rotary control C
⇒ Fig. 98 to select the air vents
⇒ page 129 you wish to activate.
135
Heating and air conditioning
Switching off air recirculation mode
– Press button
1 ⇒ Fig. 98 ⇒ page 132 again and the lamp
in the button will switch off.
If air distribution control C
⇒ Fig. 98 ⇒
page 132 is in position , air recir-
culation mode switches off automatically Press the button to switch air
recirculation mode back on in this position.
WARNING
Never use the air recirculation system for too long, as it prevents fresh air
from entering the vehicle and “used” air can cause tiredness, reduce your
attention span and cause the windows to mist over. This increases the
risk of an accident. Switch off the air recirculation system as soon as the
windows begin to mist over.
Climatronic* (automatic air conditioning) General notes
Climatronic automatically maintains a comfortable temperature. To do so, it
automatically regulates the supplied air temperature and the blower and air
distribution levels. The system also allows for the effect of sunlight, so there
is no need for manual adjustment. Automatic operations ⇒ page 136 guar-
antee maximum comfort any time of year.
Climatronic description
Cooling only works if the following conditions are met:
● The engine is running
● the outside temperature is above +2 °C (+36 °F)
● AC
18 ⇒ Fig. 99 ⇒ page 136 on. In order to ensure engines subject to heavy loads are cooled, the air condi-
tioning compressor is switched off in the event of high coolant tempera-
tures.
Recommended setting for all seasons
●
Set the required temperature, we recommend +22 °C (72 °F).
● Press the AUTO
button 12 ⇒
Fig. 99 ⇒ page 136.
● Adjust vents 3 ⇒ page 129 and 4 so that the air flow is directed slightly
upwards.
Change between degrees Centigrade and degrees Fahrenheit
Keep the AUTO
and AC buttons
⇒ Fig. 99 ⇒ page 136 pressed down at the
same time. The data is displayed on the screen in the units required.
Note
A visit to the specialised service once a year is recommended to clean the
Climatronic system.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
139
Driving
Driving Starting and stopping the engine
Introduction
WARNING
● Never adjust the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving!
● Maintain at least 25 cm distance between the steering wheel and the
upper part of your body 1
⇒ Fig. 100
⇒ page 140. The airbag system
will not be able to give the required protection if the minimum distance is
not observed. This can cause a risk of fatal injury!
● For safety reasons, the steering wheel adjustment lever must always
be pushed securely against the steering column to prevent the steering
wheel from accidentally changing position while driving. Risk of acci-
dent!
● If the steering wheel is adjusted closer to your face, the protective ef-
fect of the driver airbag will be decreased in the event of an accident.
Check that the steering wheel is pointing towards the upper part of your
body.
● When driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands on the
outside part at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. Never hold the
steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position, or in any other manner (e.g. in
the centre of the steering wheel). In such cases, if the airbag is triggered,
you may sustain injuries to the arms, hands and head.
● When moving with the engine switched off, the ignition key must al-
ways remain in position 2
⇒ Fig. 101 ⇒
page 141 (ignition on). The
control lamps will light up in this position. Otherwise, the steering lock
could engage suddenly. Risk of accident!
WARNING (Continued)
● Do not remove the key from the ignition until the vehicle has come to
a standstill and is secure (e.g. the handbrake is engaged). Otherwise, the
steering lock could suddenly engage. Risk of accident!
● Always take the ignition key with you when you leave the vehicle.
This is particularly important if you leave children in the vehicle. Children
could start the engine, for example, with the subsequent risk of accident.
● Never leave the engine running in unventilated or closed rooms. The
exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless
poisonous gas. Risk of fatal accidents! Carbon monoxide can cause peo-
ple to lose consciousness and can cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the engine is running.
● Never switch the engine off until the vehicle is stationary. Risk of ac-
cident!
CAUTION
● Turning the steering wheel fully in either direction when the vehicle is
stationary and the engine in gear puts the power steering under great
stress. This could lead to noise. Never leave the steering wheel turned fully
in either direction for more than 15 seconds. Risk of damage to the power
steering system!
● The starter motor may only be used (key position 3
⇒ Fig. 101
⇒ page 141 in the ignition) if the engine is off. Using the starter motor
when the engine is running could cause damage.
● Immediately release the ignition key when the engine starts, otherwise
damage could be caused to the starter motor.
● When the engine is cold, you should avoid high engine speeds, driving
at full throttle and over-loading the engine before it reaches operating tem-
perature. Risk of engine damage!
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications