WARNINGNever let the vehicle roll with locked steering lock - there is a risk of acci-
dent!
Switch ignition on / off
Read and observe
and on page 133 first.
›
Press the button » Fig. 126 on page 133 briefly.
The ignition is switched on or off.
On vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox, the clutch pedal must not be de-
pressed while switching the ignition on or off, otherwise the system would try
to start.
On vehicles fitted with a automatic gearbox, the brake pedal must not be de-
pressed while switching the ignition on or off, otherwise the system would try
to start.
If the driver's door is opened while the ignition is on, an audible signal sounds
and the following message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Ignition on!
IGNITION SWITCHED ON
When leaving the vehicle always switch off the ignition.
Starting the engine
Read and observe
and on page 133 first.
Starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , shift gear stick to neutral, depress
the clutch pedal and hold it there until the engine starts.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in position
P or N and depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
›
Press and hold the starter button » Fig. 126 on page 133 1)
until the engine
starts.
In vehicles with diesel engines after pressing the button, the glow plug warn-
ing light lights up. The engine can be started after the indicator light goes
out.
Note
■ The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.■
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heat-
ing period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Switching off the engine
Read and observe
and on page 133 first.
Switching off
›
Stop the vehicle » page 137, Parking .
›
Press the button » Fig. 126 on page 133 briefly.
The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
Emergency shutdown
If necessary, the engine in exceptional cases may also be turned off while driv-
ing.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 126 on page 133 for longer than 1 second or
twice within 1 second.
After the emergency stop of the motor, the steering lock will remain unlocked.
CAUTION
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumula-
tion of heat when the engine is switched off.
Note
After switching off the ignition, the radiator fan may intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10 minutes.1)
On vehicles with the START-STOP system, it is sufficient to press the starter button briefly. The motor
will then automatically start.
134Driving
Problems starting the engineFig. 127
Starting the engine - Press the
button with the key
Read and observe and on page 133 first.
The key in the vehicle cannot be verified
If the key in the vehicle cannot be verified, then engine cannot be started by pressing a button.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Key not found.
NO KEY
The reasons for this may be as follows.
› The battery in the key is almost out of charge.
› The key is malfunctioning
› There is interference in the signal between the system and the key (strong
electromagnetic field).
Try to start the engine by pressing the knob with the key » Fig. 127.
System fault
If the following message appears on the display of the instrument cluster
there is a system malfunction.
Keyless faulty.
CHECK KEYLESS
Try to start the engine by pressing the knob with the key » Fig. 127.
CAUTION
The key can only be verified if it is in the vehicle. It is therefore not always nec-
essary to know where the key is.Note■ When attempting to start, the key bit must be pointed towards the but-
ton » Fig. 127 .■
If engine fails to start after pressing the button with the key, seek specialist
help.
Brakes and parking
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
135
Handbrake
136
Parking
137WARNING■ Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switch-
ed off – risk of accident!■
During the braking procedure on a vehicle with manual transmission,
when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs, press the clutch pedal. Other-
wise, the functionality of the brake system may be impaired – risk of acci-
dent!
■
When leaving the vehicle, never leave persons who might, for example,
release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear unattended in the ve-
hicle. The vehicle could then start to move – risk of accident!
■
Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 140, New
brake pads .
CAUTION
Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not nec-
essary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer brak-
ing distance and excessive wear.
Information on braking
Read and observe
and on page 135 first.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driv-
ing style.
135Starting-off and Driving
The brake pads wear more quickly if a lot of journeys are completed in towns
and over short distances or if a very sporty style of driving is adopted.
If operated under severe conditions , the thickness of the brake pads must be
checked by a specialist garage between service appointments as well.
Wet roads or road salt
The performance of the brakes can be delayed as the brake discs and brake
pads may be moist or have a coating of ice or layer of salt on them in winter.
The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times »
.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if the vehicle has
been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking
system. The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several
times »
.
Long or steep slopes
Before travelling a long distance with a steep gradient, reduce speed and shift
into the next lowest gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be
used, reducing the load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be com-
pleted intermittently, not continuously.
Emergency brake display
If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system con-
siders the situation to be dangerous for the following traffic, the brake light
flashes automatically.
After the speed was reduced below around 10 km/h or the vehicle was stop-
ped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system
switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically af- ter accelerating or driving off again.
Faults in the brake surface
If it is found that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that
the brake pedal can be depressed further, the brake system may be faulty.
Visit a specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropri-
ately, as you will not know the exact extent of the damage.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system.
The level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically » page 35,
Brake sys-
tem .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.WARNINGOnly apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake
discs if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users
in jeopardy.
Handbrake
Fig. 128
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 135 first.
The hand brake is used when stopping and parking for securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Release
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the lock
button » Fig. 128 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake indicator light
lights up when the handbrake is applied, pro-
vided the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the
handbrake applied.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Release parking brake!
136Driving
The handbrake warning is activated if the vehicle is driven at a speed of more
than around 5 km/h for more than 3 seconds.WARNINGPlease note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating. This can
have a negative effect on the operation of the brake system – risk of acci-
dent!
Parking
Read and observe
and on page 135 first.
When stopping and parking, look for a place with a suitable surface » .
Only carry out the activities while parking in the specified order.
›
Bring the vehicle to a stop and depress the brake pedal.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission place the selector lever in the P po-
sition.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
For vehicles with Manual transmission engage 1st gear or reverse gear.
›
Release the brake pedal.
WARNINGThe exhaust system components can become very hot. Therefore, never
stop the vehicle at places where the underside of your vehicle can come in-
to contact with flammable materials such as dry grass, undergrowth,
leaves, spilled fuel or such like. - Risk of fire and serious injury can occur!
Manual gear changing and pedals
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
137
Pedals
137Manual gear changingFig. 129
The shift pattern: 5-gear or 6-
gear manual transmission
On the shift lever, the individual gear positions are shown » Fig. 129.
The gearshift indicator should be observed when changing gear » page 43.
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear
on the clutch.
Reverse gear is engaged
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
The clutch pedal is fully depressed.
›
Move the shift lever to the idle position switch and press down.
›
Move the shift lever fully to the left and then forward into R posi-
tion » Fig. 129 .
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the ignition is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident!
CAUTION
■ If not in the process of changing gear, do not leave your hand on the gear-
shift lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gearshift
mechanism to wear excessively.■
When stopping on a slope, never try to hold the vehicle using the accelerator
pedal – this may lead to gear damage.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances!
137Starting-off and Driving
N - Neutral
The power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode.D
- Mode for forwards travel (normal programme)
In mode D, the forward gears are automatically changed according to the en-
gine load, accelerator pedal actuation and driving speed.
S
- Mode for forwards travel (sports programme)
In mode S , the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at high-
er engine speeds than in mode D.
Before changing to mode S from mode D, press the lock button in the direction
of arrow
1
» Fig. 130 .
Fault in the automatic gearbox
A fault in the automatic gearbox can, for example, be noticeable by the follow-
ing.
› Only certain gears are selected.
› The reverse gear
R cannot be used.
› Shifting gears in Tiptronic mode is not possible.
CAUTION
If an error occurs on the automatic transmission the help of a specialist firm
should be sought immediately - there is a risk of damaging the vehicle.
Selector lever lock
Read and observe
and on page 138 first.
The selector lever is locked in mode P and N to prevent that the forward driv-
ing is selected accidentally, thereby setting the vehicle in motion.
The selector lever is locked only when the vehicle is stationary and at speeds
up to 5 km/h.
The selector lever lock is indicated by the illumination of the warning light .
The selector lever is not locked when quickly moving across the position N
(e.g. from R to D). This, for example, helps to rock out a vehicle that is stuck,
e.g. in a bank of snow. The selector lever lock will engage if the lever is in posi-
tion N for more than approx. 2 seconds without the brake pedal being de-
pressed.
Releasing selector lever from mode P or N (selector lever lock)
›
Press the brake pedal and the lock button at the same time in the direction
of
1
» Fig. 130 on page 138 .
Just depress the brake pedal, if you would like to change from the mode N to
D .
Defective selector lever lock If the selector lever lock is defective or its power supply is interrupted (e.g. dis-
charged vehicle battery, faulty fuse), the selector lever can no longer be moved
out of position P in the normal manner and the vehicle can no longer be driven.
The selector lever must be unlocked specially » page 212.
Note
If you want to move the selector lever from mode P to mode D or vice versa,
move the selector lever quickly. This prevents that you accidentally select
mode R or N.
Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic)
Fig. 131
Selector lever
Read and observe and on page 138 first.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears on the selector lever.
This mode can be selected both while stopping and while driving.
The currently selected gear is indicated in the display » Fig. 130 on page 138 .
The gearshift indicator should be observed when changing gear » page 43.
Switching to manual shifting
›
Push the gear selector from mode D towards the right, or left in a right-hand
drive vehicle.
Shifting up gears
›
Push the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 131 .
Shifting down gears
›
Push the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 131 .
139Starting-off and Driving
Driving off paved roadsRead and observe
on page 141 first.
Only drive on such roads and in such terrain, which match the vehicle parame-ters » page 222 , Technical data as well as your driving skills.
The driver is always responsible for deciding whether the vehicle can handle
travelling in the given terrain.
When travelling off paved roads, we recommend activating the OFF ROAD
mode » page 144 .
WARNINGDrive particularly aware and pro-actively outside paved roads.■Always adjust your driving to the current terrain and weather conditions.
Excessive speed or incorrect driving manoeuvres can cause damage to the
vehicle and lead to serious injuries.■
Objects trapped under the floor of the vehicle can damage the fuel lines,
the brake system, the seals and other parts of the chassis. Check the un-
derside of the vehicle and remove the trapped objects.
■
Combustible objects such as dry leaves or twigs caught under the base of
the vehicle could ignite on hot vehicle parts - risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ Pay attention to the ground clearance of the vehicle! When driving over ob-
jects which are larger than the ground clearance, the chassis and its compo-
nents can get damaged.■
Drive slowly in unknown terrain and watch out for unexpected obstacles,
such as potholes, rocks, stumps, etc.
■
Check up on confusing sections of unpaved roads before travelling on them
and consider whether such travelling is possible without risk.
Assist systems
Braking and stabilisation systems
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
143
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
143
Traction Control System (TCS)
143
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
143
Driver Steering Recommendation (DSR)
144
Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
144
Hill Hold Control (HHC)
144
Trailer stabilisation (TSA)
144
This chapter deals with the functions of the braking and stabilisation systems,
with the error indicator referred to in chapter » page 34, Warning lights .
The braking and stabilisation systems are automatically activated each time
the ignition is switched on.
WARNING■ A lack of fuel can cause irregular engine running or cause the engine to
shut down. The brake assist systems would then fail to function – risk of
accident!■
The increased safety provided by the brake assist systems must not
tempt you to take safety risks – risk of accident!
■
Adjust the speed and driving style to the current visibility, weather, road
and traffic conditions.
142Driving
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)Fig. 133
Press the ESC system: Activat-
ing/deactivating TCS
Read and observe on page 142 first.
The ESC improves vehicle stability in dynamic driving situations, such as when
the vehicle starts to skid.
The ESC monitors whether the desired direction of the current vehicle motion
is occurring. In case of any deviation (e.g. over steer), the ESC automatically
brakes individual wheels to maintain the desired direction.
During an intervention of the system, the indicator light flashes in the in-
strument cluster.
The ESC system cannot be deactivated. The
» Fig. 133 button can only be
used to deactivate the TCS » page 143.
The warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when the ASR is deacti-
vated.
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
Read and observe
on page 142 first.
ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking. Thus helping the driver to
maintain control of the vehicle.
The intervention of the ABS is noticeable from the pulsating movements of
the brake pedal which is accompanied by noises.
When the ABS system is active, do not brake periodically or reduce the pres- sure on the brake pedal.
Traction Control System (TCS)Fig. 134
Button for the TCS system: TCS
disable / enable (vehicle without
ESC)
Read and observe on page 142 first.
TCS prevents the spinning of the wheels of the driven axle. TCS reduces the
drive power transmitted to the wheels in the case of slipping wheels. Thus, for
example, driving on road surfaces with low grip is made easier.
If your vehicle is fitted with the ESC system, the ASR is integrated into the ESC
system » page 143 .
During a TCS intervention, the indicator light flashes in the instrument clus-
ter.
The TCS should normally always be enabled. The system should be deactivated
only in the following situations, for example.
› When driving with snow chains.
› When driving in deep snow or on a very loose surface.
› When it is necessary to “rock” a car free when it has become stuck.
The ASR can be deactivated via the
» Fig. 134 symbol button.
The warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when the ASR is deacti-
vated.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
Read and observe
on page 142 first.
EDL prevents the turning of the respective wheel of the driven axle. EDL
brakes the spinning wheel, if necessary, and transmits the driving force to the
other driving wheel. Driving becomes easier on road surfaces with different
traction under each wheel of the driven axle.
143Assist systems
WARNING■A lack of fuel can cause irregular engine running or cause the engine to
shut down. This would lead the OFF ROAD mode to lose its effectiveness -
risk of accident!■
The increased safety offered by the OFF ROAD mode must not tempt you
to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
■
Adjust the speed and driving style to the current visibility, weather, road
and traffic conditions.
CAUTION
■ The OFF ROAD mode is not designed for the use on common roads.■All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres approved by the manufac-
turer to ensure theOFF ROAD mode operates correctly.
Operation
Fig. 135
OFF ROAD button
Read and observe and on page 145 first.
We recommend that you activate the OFF ROAD mode for every trip on non-
paved roads.
Activating
›
Press the symbol button
» Fig. 135 .
The symbol in the button comes on.
Deactivate
›
Press the symbol key
» Fig. 135 or turn the ignition off.
The symbol in the button is no longer illuminated.
So that an engagement of the OFF ROAD mode can take place, the following
conditions must be met.
The OFF ROAD mode is enabled.
The vehicle is moving at a speed of less than 30 km/h.
The warning light
illuminates in the instrument cluster.
The following functions are integrated in the OFF ROAD mode. › Downhill Drive Support
» page 145.
› TCS OFF ROAD
» page 146.
› EDL OFF ROAD
» page 146.
› ABS OFF ROAD
» page 146.
› Start-Off Assistant
» page 146.
Note
If the engine stalls while driving and is started again within 30 seconds, then
OFF ROAD mode will be automatically activated.
Hill Descent Assistant
Read and observe
and on page 145 first.
The hill descent assistant (hereinafter referred to as assistant), with its auto-
matic braking action on all wheels, ensures a constant speed on a steep slope
when driving forwards and reversing.
The assistant is automatically engaged under the following conditions. The vehicle engine is running. 1st, 2nd or 3rd gear, reverse gear or no gear
is engaged and the selector lever is in position R, N, D, S or Tiptronic.
The downhill gradient is at least 10 % (when driving over sleepers, the lim-
it can briefly drop to 8 %).
Neither the accelerator nor the brake pedal is operated.
During an intervention of the Assistants, the warning light flashes in the in-
strument cluster.
The assistant holds the vehicle speed at which the vehicle was travelling when
it entered the slope.
By pressing the accelerator or brake pedal, the speed can be increased or re-
duced. This is true even if the shift lever is in the neutral position and the se-
lector lever in the N position. The engagement of the assistant is resumed af-
ter the pedal is released.
145Assist systems