Driving and operating163Trailer hitch
General information
Only use towing equipment that has
been approved for your vehicle.
Entrust retrofitting of towing
equipment to a workshop. It may be
necessary to make changes that
affect the cooling system, heat
shields or other equipment.
Fitting of towing equipment could
cover the opening of the towing eye.
If this is the case use the coupling ball
bar for towing. Always keep the
coupling ball bar in the vehicle.
Driving characteristics and
towing tips Before attaching a trailer, lubricatethe coupling ball. However, do not do
so if a stabiliser, which acts on the coupling ball, is being used to reduce
snaking movements.
For trailers with low driving stability
and caravan trailers with a permitted
gross vehicle weight of more than1100 kg the use of a stabiliser is
strongly recommended when driving
above 50 mph.
If the trailer starts snaking, drive more slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if
necessary.
When driving downhill, drive in the
same gear as if driving uphill and
drive at a similar speed.
Adjust tyre pressure to the value
specified for full load 3 233.
Trailer towing Trailer loads9 Warning
Vehicles with engine A13DTE:
Use of towing equipment is
permissible for attaching
compatible bicycle carriers only.
Do not use towing equipment for
trailer towing.
The permissible trailer loads are
vehicle and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exceeded. The actual trailer load is
the difference between the actual
gross weight of the trailer and the
actual coupling socket load with the
trailer coupled.
The permissible trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In general, they are valid for gradients
up to max. 12 %.
The permitted trailer load applies up to the specified incline and up to an
altitude of 1000 metres above sea
level. Since engine power decreases
as altitude increases due to the air becoming thinner, therefore reducing
climbing ability, the permissible gross
train weight also decreases by 10 %
for every 1000 metres of additional
altitude. The gross train weight does
not have to be reduced when driving
on roads with slight inclines (less than
8 %, e.g. motorways).
168Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................168
Vehicle checks ........................... 169
Bulb replacement .......................176
Electrical system ........................186
Vehicle tools .............................. 192
Wheels and tyres .......................193
Jump starting ............................. 210
Towing ....................................... 212
Appearance care .......................214General 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 and wax the vehicle.
■ 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.
Vehicle care169
■ Open the bonnet, close all doorsand lock the vehicle.
■ Disconnect the clamp from the negative terminal of the vehicle
battery. Beware that all systems are
not functional, e.g. anti-theft alarm
system.
Putting back into operation
When the vehicle is to be put back into
operation:
■ Connect the clamp to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery.
Activate the electronics of the
power windows.
■ Check tyre pressure.
■ Fill up the washer fluid reservoir.
■ Check the engine oil level.
■ Check the coolant level.
■ Fit the number plate if necessary.End-of-life vehicle
recovery
Information on end-of-life vehicle
recovery centres and the recycling of
end-of-life vehicles is available on our website. Only entrust this work to an
authorised recycling centre.
Gas vehicles must be recycled by a
service centre authorised for gas
vehicles.Vehicle checks
Performing work9 Warning
Only perform engine compartment
checks when the ignition is off.
The cooling fan may start
operating even if the ignition is off.
194Vehicle careTyre pressureCheck the pressure of cold tyres at
least every 14 days and before any
long journey. Do not forget the spare
wheel. This also applies to vehicles
with tyre pressure monitoring system.
Unscrew the valve cap.
Tyre pressure 3 233.
The tyre pressure information label
on the right door frame indicates the original equipment tyres and the
correspondent tyre pressures.
The tyre pressure data refers to cold
tyres. It applies to summer and winter tyres.
Always inflate the spare tyre to the
pressure specified for full load.
The ECO tyre pressure serves to
achieve the smallest amount of fuel
consumption possible.
Incorrect tyre pressures will impair
safety, vehicle handling, comfort and
fuel economy and will increase tyre
wear.
Tyre pressures differ depending on
various options. For the correct tyre
pressure value, follow the procedure
below:
1. Identify the engine identifier code.
Engine data 3 225.
2. Identify the respective tyre.
The tyre pressure tables show all
possible tyre combinations 3 233.
For the tyres approved for your
vehicle, refer to the EEC Certificate of Conformity provided with your vehicle
or other national registration
documents.The driver is responsible for correct adjustment of tyre pressure.9 Warning
If the pressure is too low, this can
result in considerable tyre warm-
up and internal damage, leading to tread separation and even to tyre
blow-out at high speeds.
If the tyre pressure must be reduced
or increased on a vehicle with tyre
pressure monitoring system, switch
off ignition.
Tyre pressure monitoring system The tyre pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) checks the pressure of all
four wheels once a minute when
vehicle speed exceeds a certain limit.
Vehicle care195Caution
Tyre pressure monitoring system
warns only about low tyre pressure condition and does not replace
regular tyre maintenance by the
driver.
All wheels must be equipped with pressure sensors and the tyres must
have the prescribed pressure.
Notice
In countries where the tyre pressure
monitoring system is legally
required, the use of wheels without
pressure sensors will invalidate the
vehicle type approval.
The current tyre pressures can be
shown in the Vehicle Information
Menu in the Driver Information Centre
(DIC).
The menu can be selected by the
buttons on the turn signal lever.
Press MENU to select the Vehicle
Information Menu X .
Turn the adjuster wheel to select the
tyre pressure monitoring system.
System status and pressure warnings
are displayed by a message with the
corresponding tyre flashing in the
DIC.
A detected low tyre pressure
condition is indicated by the control
indicator w 3 97.
If w illuminates, stop as soon as
possible and inflate the tyres as
recommended 3 233.
196Vehicle care
If w flashes for 60-90 seconds and
then illuminates continuously, there is a fault in the system. Consult a
workshop.
After inflating, driving may be
required to update the tyre pressure
values in the DIC. During this time w
may illuminate.
If w illuminates at lower temperatures
and extinguishes after some driving,
this could be an indicator for getting
low pressure. Check tyre pressure.
Vehicle messages 3 105.
If the tyre pressure shall be reduced
or increased, switch off ignition.
Only mount wheels with pressure
sensors, otherwise the tyre pressure
will not be displayed and w
illuminates continuously.
A temporary spare wheel is not
equipped with pressure sensors. The
tyre pressure monitoring system is
not operational for these wheels.
Control indicator w illuminates. For
the further three wheels the system
remains operational.The use of commercially available
liquid tyre repair kits can impair the
function of the system. Factory-
approved repair kits can be used.
External high-power radio equipment
could disrupt the tyre pressure
monitoring system.
Each time the tyres are replaced tyre
pressure monitoring system sensors
must be dismounted and serviced. For the screwed sensor: replace
valve core and sealing ring. For
clipped sensor: replace complete
valve stem.
Vehicle loading status Adjust tyre pressure to load condition according to tyre information label or
tyre pressure chart 3 233, and select
the relevant setting in the menu Tire
Load in the Driver Information Centre,
Vehicle Information Menu 3 100.
Select:
■ Light for comfort pressure up to
3 people.
■ Eco for Eco pressure up to
3 people.
■ Max for full loading.
TPMS Sensor Matching
Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. The identification
code must be matched to a new tyre/
wheel position after rotating the tyres
or exchanging the complete wheel set and if one or more TPMS sensorswere replaced. The TPMS sensor
Vehicle care197
matching process should also be
performed after replacing a spare tyre with a road tyre containing the TPMS
sensor.
The malfunction light w and the
warning message or code should go
off at the next ignition cycle. The
sensors are matched to the tyre/
wheel positions, using a TPMS
relearn tool, in the following order: left
side front tyre, right side front tyre,
right side rear tyre and left side rear
tyre. The turn light at the current
active position is illuminated until
sensor is matched.
Consult your workshop for service or
to purchase a relearn tool. There are
2 minutes to match the first tyre/wheel position, and 5 minutes overall to
match all four tyre/wheel positions. If
it takes longer, the matching process
stops and must be restarted.The TPMS sensor matching process is:
1. Apply the parking brake; on vehicles with automatic
transmission set the selector lever
to P.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Press MENU on the turn signal
lever to select the Vehicle
Information Menu in the Driver
Information Centre (DIC).
4. Turn the adjuster wheel to scroll to
the tyre pressure menu.
5. Press the SET/CLR button to
begin the sensor matching
process. A message requesting
acceptance of the process should
display.
6. Press the SET/CLR button again
to confirm the selection. The horn sounds twice to signal the
receiver is in relearn mode.
7. Start with the left side front tyre.
8. Place the relearn tool against the tyre sidewall, near the valve stem.Then press the button to activate
the TPMS sensor. A horn chirpconfirms that the sensor
identification code has been
matched to this tyre and wheel
position.
9. Proceed to the right side front tyre,
and repeat the procedure in Step 8.
10. Proceed to the right side rear tyre,
and repeat the procedure in
Step 8.
11. Proceed to the left side rear tyre, and repeat the procedure in
Step 8. The horn sounds twice to
indicate the sensor identification
code has been matched to the left side rear tyre, and the TPMS
sensor matching process is no
longer active.
12. Turn off the ignition.
13. Set all four tyres to the recommended air pressure level
as indicated on the tyre pressure
label.
14. Ensure the tyre loading status is set according selected pressure
3 100.
198Vehicle care
Temperature dependencyTyre pressure depends on the
temperature of the tyre. During
driving, tyre temperature and
pressure increase.
The tyre pressure value displayed in
the Driver Information Centre shows
the actual tyre pressure. Therefore it
is important to check tyre pressure
with cold tyres.
Tread depth Check tread depth at regular
intervals.
Tyres should be replaced for safety
reasons at a tread depth of 2-3 mm
(4 mm for winter tyres).
For safety reasons it is recommended
that the tread depth of the tyres on
one axle should not vary by more than
2 mm.
The legally permissible minimum
tread depth (1.6 mm) has been
reached when the tread has worn
down as far as one of the tread wear
indicators (TWI). Their position is
indicated by markings on the
sidewall.
If there is more wear at the front than
the rear, swap round front wheels and rear wheels periodically. Ensure that
the direction of rotation of the wheels
remains the same.
Tyres age, even if they are not used.
We recommend tyre replacement
every 6 years.
Changing tyre and wheel
size
If tyres of a different size than those
fitted at the factory are used, it may be necessary to reprogramme the
speedometer as well as the nominal
tyre pressure and make other vehicle modifications.
After converting to a different tyre
size, have the label with tyre
pressures replaced.9 Warning
Use of unsuitable tyres or wheels
may lead to accidents and will
invalidate the vehicle type
approval.
Wheel covers
Wheel covers and tyres that are
factory approved for the respective
vehicle and comply with all of the
relevant wheel and tyre combination requirements must be used.