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180Vehicle care
On tyres of size 215/55 R18, special
snow chains are only permitted when they are designed with a rotating
chain belt on the tyre tread, no chain
links on the wheel inboard sides and
the chains add no more than 12 mm
to the tyre tread. For further
information regarding correct snow chain usage for this tyre size, contact
a specialized vehicle parts dealer or
snow chain manufacturer.
Tyre chains are not permitted on tyres of size 205/70 R16, 215/65 R16,
215/60 R17 and 225/45 R19.
The use of tyre chains is not permitted on the temporary spare wheel.
Tyre repair kit
Minor damage to the tyre tread can be
repaired with the tyre repair kit.
Do not remove foreign bodies from
the tyres.
Tyre damage exceeding 4 mm or that
is at tyre's sidewall cannot be repaired with the tyre repair kit.9 Warning
Do not drive faster than 50 mph.
Do not use for a lengthy period.
Steering and handling may be
affected.
If you have a flat tyre:
Apply the parking brake and engage
first gear, reverse gear or P.
The tyre repair kit is located in the
right side of rear compartment.
1. Take the tyre repair kit from the compartment.
2. Remove the compressor.
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Vehicle care183
Notice
The driving characteristics of the
repaired tyre are severely affected, therefore have this tyre replaced.
If unusual noise is heard or the
compressor becomes hot, turn
compressor off for at least
30 minutes.
The built-in safety valve opens at a
pressure of 102 psi.
Note the expiry date of the kit. After
this date its sealing capability is no
longer guaranteed. Pay attention to
storage information on sealant
bottle.
Replace the used sealant bottle. Dispose of the bottle as prescribed
by applicable laws.
The compressor and sealant can be used from approx. -30 °C.
The adapters supplied can be used
to pump up other items e.g.
footballs, air mattresses, inflatable
dinghies etc. They are located on the
underside of the compressor. To
remove, screw on compressor air
hose and withdraw adapter.Wheel changing
Some vehicles are equipped with a
tyre repair kit instead of a spare wheel 3 180.
Make the following preparations and
observe the following information:
■ Park the vehicle on a level, firm and
non-skid surface. The front wheels
must be in the straight-ahead
position.
■ Apply the parking brake and engage first gear, reverse gear or
P .
■ Remove the spare wheel 3 185.
■ Never change more than one wheel
at once.
■ Use the jack only to change wheels
in case of puncture, not for
seasonal winter or summer tyre
change.
■ If the ground on which the vehicle is standing is soft, a solid board
(max. 1 cm thick) should be placed
under the jack.
■ Take heavy objects out of the vehicle before jacking up.■No people or animals may be in the
vehicle when it is jacked-up.
■ Never crawl under a jacked-up vehicle.
■ Do not start the vehicle when it is raised on the jack.
■ Clean wheel nuts and thread with a
clean cloth before mounting the
wheel.9 Warning
Do not grease wheel bolt, wheel
nut and wheel nut cone.
1. Disengage wheel nut caps with a screwdriver and remove. Pull off
the wheel cover.
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184Vehicle care
2. Fold out the wheel wrench andinstall ensuring that it locates
securely and loosen each wheel
nut by half a turn.
3. Ensure the jack is correctly positioned under the relevant
vehicle jacking point.
Depending on the equipment, first
remove the covers from the
jacking points.
4. Set the jack to the necessary height. Position it directly below
the jacking point in a manner that prevents it from slipping.
Attach wheel wrench and with the
jack correctly aligned rotate wheel wrench until wheel is clear of the
ground.
5. Unscrew the wheel nuts.
6. Change the wheel. Spare wheel 3 185.
7. Screw on the wheel nuts.
8. Lower the vehicle and remove jack.
9. Install the wheel wrench ensuring that it locates securely and tighten
each nut in a crosswise
sequence. Tightening torque is
140 Nm.
10. Align the valve hole in the wheel cover with the tyre valve before
installing.
Install wheel nut caps.
Install centre cap on alloy wheels.
11. Install vehicle jacking point cover on versions with sill panelling.
12. Stow the replaced wheel 3 185
and the vehicle tools 3 173.
13. Check the tyre pressure of the installed tyre and the wheel nut
torque as soon as possible.
Have the defective tyre renewed or
repaired as soon as possible.
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Vehicle care185
Jacking position for lifting
platform
Rear arm position of the lifting
platform centrically under the recess
of the sill.
Front arm position of the lifting
platform at the underbody.
Spare wheel Some vehicles are equipped with a
tyre repair kit instead of a spare
wheel.
If mounting a spare wheel, which is
different from the other wheels, this
wheel might be classified as a
temporary spare wheel and the
corresponding speed limits apply,
even though no label indicates this.
Seek the assistance of a workshop to
check the applicable speed limit.
The spare wheel always has a steel
rim.Caution
The use of a spare wheel that is smaller than the other wheels or in combination with winter tyres
could affect driveability. Have the defective tyre replaced as soon as
possible.
The spare wheel is located in the load
compartment beneath the floor
covering. It is secured with a wing nut.
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186Vehicle care
Stowing a damaged full sizewheel in the load compartment
The spare wheel well is not designed for other tyre sizes than the spare
wheel.
A damaged full size wheel must be
stowed in the load compartment and
secured with a strap. Vehicle tools
3 173. To secure the wheel:
1. Position the wheel in the middle of
the load compartment.
2. Place the loop end of the strap through the lashing eye on one
side.
3. Place the hook end of the strap through the loop and pull it until
the strap is fastened securely to
the lashing eye.
4. Insert the strap through the spokes of the wheel as shown in
the illustration.
5. Mount the hook to the opposite lashing eye.
6. Tighten the strap and secure it using the buckle.
9 Danger
Always drive with folded up and
engaged rear seat backrests when stowing a damaged full size wheel
in the load compartment.
Temporary spare wheel
Caution
The use of a spare wheel that is smaller than the other wheels or in combination with winter tyres
could affect driveability. Have the defective tyre replaced as soon as
possible.
Only mount one temporary spare
wheel. Do not drive faster than
50 mph. Take curves slowly. Do not
use for a long period of time.
If your vehicle gets a flat tyre on the
rear while towing another vehicle,
mount the temporary spare wheel in
the front and the full size tyre in the
rear.
Tyre chains 3 179.
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Vehicle care189Towing
Towing the vehicle
Disengage cap by using a
screwdriver and remove.
The towing eye is stowed with the vehicle tools 3 173.
Screw in the towing eye as far as it will
go until it stops in a horizontal
position.
Attach a tow rope – or better still a tow
rod – to the towing eye.
The towing eye must only be used for towing and not for recovering the
vehicle.
Switch on ignition to release steering
wheel lock and to permit operation of
brake lights, horn and windscreen
wiper.
Transmission in neutral.
Caution
Never tow your vehicle equipped
with All Wheel Drive (AWD) with the front or rear tyres on the road.
If you tow the vehicle equipped with AWD while the front or rear
tyres are rolling on the road the
drive system in the vehicle could
be severely damaged. When
towing vehicles equipped with
AWD all 4 tyres may not be in
contact with the road.
Caution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can
damage the vehicle.
When the engine is not running,
considerably more force is needed to
brake and steer.
To prevent the entry of exhaust gases from the towing vehicle, switch on the
air recirculation system 3 113 and
close the windows.
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190Vehicle care
Vehicles with manual transmission:
The vehicle must be towed facing
forwards. The maximum speed is
50 mph. In all other cases, and when
the transmission is defective, the front axle must be raised off the ground.
Vehicle with automatic transmission:
Do not tow the vehicle using tow eye.
Towing with a tow rope could cause
severe automatic transmission
damage. When towing vehicle with
automatic transmission, use flat bed or wheel lift equipment.
Seek the assistance of a workshop.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye.
Insert cap and close cap.Towing another vehicle
Disengage the cap by using a
screwdriver and remove.
The towing eye is stowed with the
vehicle tools 3 173.
Screw in the towing eye as far as it will
go until it stops in a horizontal
position.
The lashing eye at the rear
underneath the vehicle must never be used as a towing eye.
Attach a tow rope – or even better a
tow bar – to the towing eye.
The towing eye must only be used for
towing and not for recovering a
vehicle.
Switch on the hazard warning
flashers on both vehicles.
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Vehicle care191Caution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can
damage the vehicle.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye.
Insert cap at the bottom and engage
cap.
Appearance care
Exterior care Locks
The locks are lubricated at the factory using a high quality lock cylinder
grease. Use de-icing agent only when absolutely necessary, as this has a
degreasing effect and impairs lock function. After using a de-icing agent,
have the locks regreased by a
workshop.
Washing The paintwork of your vehicle is
exposed to environmental influences.
Wash and wax your vehicle regularly.
When using automatic vehicle
washes, select a programme that
includes waxing.
Bird droppings, dead insects, resin,
pollen and the like should be cleaned
off immediately, as they contain
aggressive constituents which can
cause paint damage.If using a vehicle wash, comply with
the vehicle wash manufacturer's instructions. The windscreen wiperand rear window wiper must be
switched off. Remove antenna and
external accessories such as roof
racks etc.
If you wash your vehicle by hand,
make sure that the insides of the
wheel housings are also thoroughly
rinsed out.
Clean edges and folds on opened
doors and the bonnet as well as the
areas they cover.Caution
Always use a cleaning agent with
a pH value of 4 to 9.
Do not use cleaning agents on hot surfaces.
Have the door hinges of all doors
greased by a workshop.
Do not clean the engine compartment with a steam-jet or high-pressure jet
cleaner.