The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trail-
er is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this
combination.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for a “full load” » page 173,
Service life of tyres .
Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan- ces » page 199 , Technical data .
The trailer loads specified apply only to altitudes up to 1 000 metres above mean
sea level.
The engine output falls as altitude increases, as does the ability to climb. There-
fore, for every additional 1000 m in height (or part), the maximum permissible
towed weight must be reduced by 10 %.
The towed weight comprises the actual weights of the (loaded) towing vehicleand the (loaded) trailer.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing equip-
ment are merely test data for the towing equipment. The vehicle-specific values
are detailed in the vehicle documents.WARNING■ Do not exceed the maximum permissible axle and drawbar load and the
maximum permissible total or towed weight of the vehicle and the trailer –
there is the risk of an accident and serious injury.■
Slipping loads can significantly affect the stability and safety of the vehicle/
trailer combination – there is the risk of an accident and serious injury.
Towing a trailer
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 120.
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. The national legal requirements must be observed.
Headlights
The front of the vehicle can be lifted when a trailer is being towed and the head- lights can dazzle other road users.
Adjust the headlight setting on the headlight range control » page 42, Headlight
beam adjustment .
Driving speed
For safety reasons, do not drive faster than 80 km/h when towing a trailer.
Immediately reduce your speed as soon as even the slightest swaying of the trail- er is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by accelerating.
Brakes
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first, then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from
the trailer wheels locking.
On downhill sections shift down a gear in good time to also use the engine as a
brake.
Engine overheating
The speed must be reduced immediately if the needle for the coolant tempera-
ture gauge moves into the right-hand area or the red area of the scale.
Stop and switch off the engine if the warning light
in the instrument cluster
starts to flash. Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant » page 166,
Checking the coolant level .
The following guidelines must be observed » page 22,
Coolant .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.WARNING■ Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic sit-
uation.■
Improper or incorrectly connected electric cables can energise the trailer and
cause functional faults to the vehicle's entire electrical system as well as acci-
dents and severe injuries.
■
Work on the electrical system must only be carried out by specialist garages.
■
Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical con-
nections for the tail lights or other current sources.
121Towing a trailer
Height adjustment130
Inertia reels130
The physical principle of a frontal collision128
Seats Head restraints
56
Heating53
Removing seats55
Seats and stowing52
Selector lever see Using the selector lever
101
Service147
Service display16
Service intervals144
Setting Heating
79
Manual air conditioning system82
Manually dimmed rear-view mirror51
Setting the clock Clock
12
Shifting gears Driving and saving energy
105
Side airbag135
Snow chains178
Spare wheel176
Speedometer11
Speed symbol Refer to Wheels
175
Spoiler148
Stalk Main beam
43
Turn signals43
START-STOP115
Manually activating/deactivating the system116
Operating conditions for the system115
Starting/shutting down the engine115
Starting and stopping the engine96
Starting engine Jump-starting
186
Starting the engine97
Jump-starting187
Starting the engine97
START STOP Information messages
116
Jump-starting188
Steering force assistance95
Steering wheel95
Storage68
Storage compartment Storage compartment on the driver's side
70
Storage compartment on the front passenger side
69
Storage Compartment Lighting
47
Storage compartments68
Flexible storage compartment73
Storage compartment in the front centre console 71
storage pockets on the front seat
70
Stowage compartment beneath the front seat
71
compartment for glasses70
compartments in the doors72
compartments in the luggage73
sun roof48
sunshade48
Sun visors48
Switching lights on and off41
Switching off the engine98
Synthetic leather155
T
Taking care of the vehicle Natural leather
155
Seat belts156
Taking care of your vehicle Automatic car wash system
150
Cavity protection153
Chrome parts152
Cleaning the wheels153
Decorative films152
Door lock cylinders153
Headlight lenses153
High-pressure cleaner150
Plastic parts151
Polishing the paintwork151
Rubber seals152
Taking care of the interior154
Taking care of your vehicle exterior150
Washing149
Washing by hand149
Wash system150
Wax treatment151
Taking care of your vehicles Fabric covers
156
Technical data199
Telephone86
Temporary spare wheel176
the rear seats fold down seat backrest and fold seat fully for- ward
55
Tiptronic102
Tools180
TOP TETHER143
Tourist lights44
Towing188
Towing a trailer117
Towing device Description
117
Drawbar load117
Use and care120
Towing eye Front
189
Rear189
Towing protection36
Traction Control System (ASR)111
Trailer117, 120
Loading120
Towing a trailer121
211Index
