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180Driving and operating
Rear axle loadWhen the trailer is coupled and the
towing vehicle fully loaded, the
permissible rear axle load (see
identification plate or vehicle
documents) may be exceeded by
100 kg, the gross vehicle weight
rating may be exceeded by 100 kg. If
the permissible rear axle load is
exceeded, a maximum speed of
60 mph applies.
Towing equipmentCaution
When operating without a trailer,
remove the coupling ball bar.
Stowage of coupling ball bar
The coupling ball bar is stowed in a
bag and must be secured in the load
compartment.
Vehicle with spare wheel
The bag with the coupling ball bar is
placed near the spare wheel under
the load floor cover.
Direct the strap through the rim and around the wheel, wrap it around the
coupling ball bar and tighten the strap
to secure the bag.
Vehicles with tyre repair kit
The bag with the coupling ball bar is
placed near the tyre repair kit box
under the load floor cover.
The strap is directed around the
threaded bolt under the tyre repair kit box. Wrap the strap around the
coupling ball bar and tighten the strap
to secure the bag.
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Driving and operating183
■The coupling ball bar must be firmly
engaged in the opening.
■ The coupling ball bar must be locked and the key removed.9 Warning
Towing a trailer is permitted only
when a coupling ball bar is fitted correctly. If the coupling ball bardoes not engage correctly, seekthe assistance of a workshop.
Dismounting the coupling ball
bar
Open the protective flap and turn the
key to position c to unlock the
coupling ball bar.
Pull out rotary handle and turn
clockwise as far as it will go. Pull out coupling ball bar downwards.
Insert sealing plug in opening. Fold away socket.
Stow and secure the coupling ball bar
as mentioned above.
Page 186 of 255

184Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................184
Vehicle checks ........................... 185
Bulb replacement .......................192
Electrical system ........................200
Vehicle tools .............................. 205
Wheels and tyres .......................206
Jump starting ............................. 221
Towing ....................................... 223
Appearance care .......................225General Information
Accessories and vehicle
modifications
We recommend the use of genuine parts and accessories and factory
approved parts specific for your
vehicle type. We cannot assess or
guarantee reliability of other products
- even if they have a regulatory or
otherwise granted approval.
Do not make any modifications to the electrical system, e.g. changes of
electronic control units (chip tuning).Caution
When transporting the vehicle on
a train or on a recovery vehicle, the
mud flaps might be damaged.
Vehicle storage
Storage for a long period of time
If the vehicle is to be stored for several months:
■ Wash the vehicle. Wax painted parts of the vehicle. Exterior care
3 225.
■ Have the wax in the engine compartment and underbody
checked.
■ Clean and preserve the rubber seals.
■ Fill up fuel tank completely.
■ Change the engine oil.
■ Drain the washer fluid reservoir.
■ Check the coolant antifreeze and corrosion protection.
■ Adjust tyre pressure to the value specified for full load.
■ Park the vehicle in a dry, well ventilated place. Engage first orreverse gear or set selector lever to P . Prevent the vehicle from rolling.
■ Do not apply the parking brake.
Page 207 of 255
Vehicle care205
No.Circuit14Rear seat electrical folding15–16Seat ventilation, rear view
camera, soft top control module17–18–19Steering wheel heating20–21Seat heating22–23Soft top control module, power
rail left24Selective catalytic reduction
system25–26Jumper fuse for non logistic
mode27Passive entryNo.Circuit28–29Hydraulic unit30–31–32Flex RideVehicle tools
Tools
Vehicles with spare wheel
Open the load floor cover. The jack,
the tools and a strap for securing a
damaged wheel are in the tool box
below the spare wheel in the load
compartment. The wheel wrench and the towing eye are in the tool bag
located in the spare wheel well near
the tool box. Spare wheel 3 218.
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206Vehicle care
Vehicles with tyre repair kit
Some tools and the towing eye are
located together with the tyre repair
kit in a tool box in the load
compartment below the floor cover.
Vehicles with tyre repair kit and
flat load compartment floor
Some tools and the towing eye are
located together with the tyre repair
kit in a bag, which is fixed at the front left lashing eye in the load
compartment.
Wheels and tyres
Wheels
On vehicles with Diesel engines no
steel rims and only special, for this
vehicle approved alloy wheels are
permitted.
Tyre condition, wheel condition
Drive over edges slowly and at right
angles if possible. Driving over sharp
edges can cause tyre and wheel
damage. Do not trap tyres on the kerb when parking.
Regularly check the wheels for
damage. Seek the assistance of a
workshop in the event of damage or
unusual wear.
Winter tyres Winter tyres improve driving safety attemperatures below 7 °C and should
therefore be fitted on all wheels.
All tyre sizes are permitted as winter
tyres 3 242.
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Vehicle care219
The spare wheel has a steel rim.Caution
The use of a spare wheel that issmaller than the other wheels or in combination with winter tyres
could affect driveability. Have the defective tyre replaced as soon as
possible.
Removing the spare wheel and
stowing a damaged wheel in the load compartment
The spare wheel is located in the
spare wheel well beneath the floor
cover.
The spare wheel well is not designed
for other tyre sizes than spare wheel.
To remove: 1. Close the soft top and fold in the load compartment partition by
pushing at the loop area upwards
to the inside 3 72.
2. Remove the floor cover.
3. The spare wheel is secured with a
wing nut in the well. Untwist nut,
remove conus and take out the
spare wheel.
Under the spare wheel there is a
box and a bag with vehicle tools.
4. Change the damaged wheel 3 216 and stow the tools back in
the tool box and the bag. Remove
the strap from the box and put
aside.
5. Secure the tool box by turning right back the wing nut with the
conus. Put the bag in the well.
6. Stow the damaged wheel outside up in the well.
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220Vehicle care
7. Place the loop end of the strapthrough the left rear lashing eye.
8. Place the hook end of the strap through the loop and pull it until
the strap is fastened securely to
the lashing eye.9. Insert the strap through the spokes of the wheel as shown in
the illustration.
10. Mount the hook to the right rear lashing eye.
11. Tighten the strap and secure it using the buckle.
12. Deposit the floor cover on the wheel.
13. If equipped, secure coupling ball bar in the bag at a lashing eye in
the load compartment.
14. Fold out the load compartment partition before opening the soft
top.
Stowing the spare wheel back in
the well after replacing the
damaged wheel
1. Close the soft top and fold in the load compartment partition.
2. Remove floor cover, untwist and remove wing nut and conus.
3. Stow the tools in the tool box and the bag.
4. Place spare wheel outside up in the well.
5. Insert and turn the excentricconus in the recess of the spare
wheel so that the wheel is
Page 223 of 255

Vehicle care221
positioned as far as possible to
the front. Secure the wheel by
turning the wing nut clockwise.
6. Insert and close floor cover.9 Warning
Storing a jack, a wheel or other
equipment in the load
compartment could cause injury if they are not fixed properly. During a sudden stop or a collision, loose
equipment could strike someone.
Store jack and tools always in the
respective storage compartments
and secure them by fixing.
Damaged wheel placed in the load
compartment must always be
secured by the strap.
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 thedefective 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 tyre in the rear.
Tyre chains 3 212.
Spare wheel with directional tyre Fit directional tyres such that they rollin the direction of travel. The rolling
direction is indicated by a symbol
(e.g. an arrow) on the sidewall.
The following applies to tyres fitted
opposing the rolling direction:
■ Driveability may be affected. Have the defective tyre renewed or
repaired as soon as possible.
■ Drive particularly carefully on wet and snow-covered road surfaces.
Jump starting
Do not start with quick charger.
A vehicle with a discharged vehicle
battery can be started using jump
leads and the vehicle battery of
another vehicle.9 Warning
Be extremely careful when starting
with jump leads. Any deviation
from the following instructions can
lead to injuries or damage caused
by battery explosion or damage to the electrical systems of both
vehicles.
9 Warning
Avoid contact of the battery with
eyes, skin, fabrics and painted
surfaces. The fluid contains
sulphuric acid which can cause
injuries and damage in the event
of direct contact.