
Head restraints
GWARNING
If head restraints are not installed and adjus-
ted correctly, they cannot provide protection
as intended. There is an increased risk of
injury in the head and neck area, e.g. in the
event of an accident or when braking.
Always drive with the head restraints instal-
led. Before driving off, make sure for every
vehicle occupant that the center of the head
restraint supports the back of the head at
about eye level.
Do not change over the head restraints for the
front and rear seats. Otherwise, it will not be
possible to correctly adjust the height and angle
of the head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is as close as
possible to your head.
Head restraint (example: luxury head restraint on
the front-passenger seat)
:
Release button
;Head restraint height
=Head restraint angle (luxury head restraints
only)
XTo raise: pull the head restraint up to the
desired position.
XTo lower: press release button :and slide
the head restraint down to the desired posi-
tion.
XTo adjust the angle: hold the front part of the
luxury head restraint by the lower edge and
tilt it to the desired position.
XTo remove : pull the head restraint up to the
stop.
XPress release button :and pull out the head
restraint.
XTo insert: insert the head restraint so that the
rod with the detents is on the left when viewed in the direction of travel.
XPress and hold release button :.
XPush the head restraint down until it engages.
Armrests
XTo set the armrest angle:fold the armrest
upwards by more than 45° ;.
The armrest is released.
XFold armrest =forwards to the stop.
XSlowly fold the armrest upwards to the
desired position.
XTo fold the armrest up: if necessary, fold the
armrest upwards :by more than 90°.
Seat heating
GWARNING
Repeatedly switching on the seat heating can
cause the seat cushion and backrest pads to
become very hot. The health of persons with
limited temperature sensitivity or a limited
ability to react to excessively high tempera-
tures may be affected or they may even suffer
burn-like injuries. There is a risk of injury.
Therefore, do not switch the seat heating on
repeatedly.
!When you leave your seat, do not place any-
thing on the seat and switch off the seat heat-
ing. Do not switch the seat heating on when
the seat is not occupied, e.g. when driving
without a front passenger. The seat heating
may otherwise overheat, causing damage to
the seat.
76Seats
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

The three red indicator lamps in thecbutton
show the activated heating level 1to 3.
The system automatically switches down from
level 3to level 2after approximately
five minutes.
The system automatically switches down from
level 2to level 1after approximately
ten minutes.
At level 1, the seat heating remains in continu-
ous operation.
XMake sure that the key is in position 1or 2in
the ignition lock.
XTo switch on: press thecbutton repeat-
edly until the desired heating level has been
set.
XTo switch off: press thecbutton repeat-
edly until all indicator lamps go out.
If the indicator lamps of the current heating level
in the cbutton flash, the seat heating has
switched off automatically. In this case, too
many electrical consumers are switched on or
the battery charge is not sufficient. The seat
heating will automatically switch back to the
current heating level when enough on-board
voltage is available again.
Steering wheel
GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint, steer- ing wheel and mirror and fasten your seat belt
before starting the engine.
GWARNING
If the steering wheel is unlocked while the
vehicle is in motion, it could change position
unexpectedly. This could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle. There is a risk of an
accident.
Before starting off, make sure the steering
wheel is locked. Never unlock the steering
wheel while the vehicle is in motion.
GWARNING
Children could injure themselves if they
adjust the steering wheel. There is a risk of
injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
The steering wheel can still be adjusted if the
key has been removed.
:Steering column fore-and-aft adjustment
;Steering column height
=Lever
Steering wheel77
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors
Z

XTo set the steering wheel:swing lever=
down until it engages.
The steering wheel is unlocked.
XMove the steering wheel to the desired posi-
tion.
XPull lever =up to the stop.
The steering wheel is locked again.
Mirrors
Rear-view mirror
XAnti-glare mode: push anti-glare lever :in
the direction of the arrow.
Exterior mirrors
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The additional mirrors in the exterior mirrors
reduce the size of the image. Objects visible in
the mirrors are closer than they appear. You
could misjudge the distance from road users
driving behind you when changing lanes, for
instance. There is a risk of an accident.
You should therefore always determine the
actual distance from road users driving
behind you, e.g.:
Rby looking over your shoulder
Rby looking in the main mirror in the exterior
mirror.
Adjusting manually
XBefore starting off, manually adjust the exte-
rior mirrors in such a way that you can get a
good overview of road and traffic conditions.
Adjusting electrically
Adjustment buttons and switches for setting the
mirrors
XBefore pulling away, turn the key to position 2
in the ignition lock (Ypage 119).
XPress switch ;to position 1for the left-hand
exterior mirror or to position 2for the right-
hand exterior mirror.
XPress adjustment button :at the top, bot-
tom, right or left.
Adjust the exterior mirrors in such a way that
you can get a good overview of road and traf- fic conditions.
iThe exterior mirrors are automatically
heated at low outside temperatures.
78Mirrors
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

The headlamp range control is used to adapt the
downward angle of the headlamp beams in
accordance with the load on your vehicle. The
cone of light from the headlamps changes if
seats are occupied or if the cargo compartmentis being loaded or unloaded. This can impair vis-
ibility and cause glare to oncoming traffic.
You can only adjust the headlamp range while
the engine is running.
XTurn headlamp range control :to the cor-
responding position. The road ahead should
be lit up for 40 mto 100 mand the low-beam
headlamps should not cause glare to oncom-
ing traffic.
Select position gif the vehicle is unladen.
Cornering lamps
The cornering lamps improve the illumination of
the road over a wide angle in the direction you
are turning, enabling better visibility in tight
bends, for example.
The cornering light function switches on
automatically, if:
Ryou are traveling at a speed of less than
25 mph (40 km/h) and you switch on a turn
signal or turn the steering wheel.
Ryou are traveling at a speeds of between
25 mph (40 km/h) and 43 mph (70 km/h) and
turn the steering wheel.
The cornering lamp may remain lit for a short
time, but is automatically switched off after no
more than 3 minutes.
iIf reverse gear is engaged the lamp on the
opposite side of the vehicle switches on
instead.
Hazard warning lamps
GWARNING
The rear exterior light will be covered if you:
Ropen the rear doors by 90°
Ropen the rear dropside.
The vehicle will then be difficult for other road users to see or will not be seen by them at all,
particularly if it is dark or visibility is poor.
There is a risk of an accident.
You should therefore ensure in this and simi-
lar situations that the vehicle is visible from
the rear in accordance with the relevant
national regulations, by using the warning tri-
angle, for instance.
Hazard warning lamp switch
XTo switch on/off: press the£hazard
warning lamp switch.
If you have indicated a turn while the hazard
warning lamps are switched on, only the turn
signal lamps on the side of the vehicle selected
will light up.
The hazard warning lamps switch on automati-
cally if:
Ran air bag is deployed.
Ryou brake sharply and bring the vehicle to a
halt from a speed of more than 45 mph
(70 km/h).
If the hazard warning lamps have been switched
on automatically, press the £hazard warn-
ing lamp switch to switch them off.
iThe hazard warning lamps work even when
the ignition is switched off.
Headlamp cleaning system
The headlamps are cleaned automatically with a
high-pressure water jet if the "Wipe with washer
fluid" function is activated (
Ypage 93) while
the low-beam headlamps are on and the engine is running.
You can find information on refilling washer fluid
in the "Maintenance and care" section
(
Ypage 224).
82Exterior lighting
Lights and windshield wiper s

Load distribution
General notes
!
Excessive loads on individual points of the
cargo floor or on the load surface impair vehi-
cle handling characteristics and could cause
damage to the floor covering.
The overall center of gravity of the load should
always be as low as possible, centered and
between the axles near the rear axle.
On Cargo Vans and Passenger Vans:
XAlways transport loads in the cargo compart-
ment.
XAlways place the load against the backrests of the rear bench seat.
XMove large and heavy loads as far towards the
front of the vehicle as possible against the
rear bench seat. Stow the load flush with the
rear bench seat.
XAlways additionally secure the load with suit-
able load-securing aids or tie downs.
Observe the following notes:
RDo not stack loads higher than the upper edge
of the backrests.
RTransport loads behind seats that are not
occupied.
RIf the rear bench seat is not occupied, insert
the seat belts crosswise into the buckle of the
opposite seat belt.
Securing loads
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you attach the tie-down incorrectly when
securing the load, the following may occur in
the event of abrupt changes in direction, brak- ing maneuvers or an accident:
Rthe cargo tie-down rings may become
detached or the tie-down may tear if the
permissible load is exceeded
Rthe load may not be restrained.
This may cause the load to slip, tip over or be
tossed about, striking vehicle occupants.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always tension the tie-downs in the proper
manner and only between the described
cargo tie-down rings. Always use tie-downs
designed specifically for the loads.
GWARNING
You may not transport anyone in the cargo
compartment or on the load surface. Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there are
seat belts available. Make sure everyone rid-
ing in the vehicle is correctly restrained with a
separate seat belt. Never use a seat belt for
more than one person at a time.
!Observe the information on the maximum
loading capacity of the individual cargo tie-
down points.
If you use several cargo tie-down points to
secure a load, you must always take the max-
imum loading capacity of the weakest cargo
tie-down point into account.
If you brake hard, for example, the forces act-
ing could be up to several times the weight
force of the load. Always use multiple cargo
tie-down points in order to distribute the force
absorption. Load the anchorages evenly.
Spread the load evenly between the cargo tie-
down points or tie-down rings.
Please also refer to the notes about qualified
specialist workshops (
Ypage 26).
Always observe the operating instructions or the
notes of the lashing strap manufacturer for the
operation of the lashing strap.
Information about the maximum loading capa-
city of the cargo tie-down points can be found in
the "Technical data" section (
Ypage 285).
As the driver, you are responsible for ensuring
that:
RThe load is secured against slipping, tipping,
rolling or falling off. This applies both in nor-
mal traffic conditions and if the vehicle must
swerve to avoid an obstacle, in the event of
full brake application and on poor road surfa-
ces.
RThe applicable requirements and guidelines
relating to load-securing practices must be
met.
If this is not the case, this may constitute a
punishable offense, depending on local legis-
lation and any ensuing consequences.
214Securing loads
Transporting loads

Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating
:Maximum number of seats
;Maximum permissible gross vehicle weight
rating
XSpecification for maximum gross vehicle
weight;is listed in the Tire and Loading
Information placard: "The gross weight of
occupants and luggage must not exceed XXX
kilograms or XXX lbs."
The gross weight of all vehicle occupants, cargo,
luggage and trailer load/noseweight (if applica-
ble) must not exceed the specified value.
iThe details on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard illustration are only an exam-
ple. The maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating is vehicle-specific and may dif-
fer from that which is illustrated. You can find
the valid maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating for your vehicle on the Tire and
Loading Information placard.
Number of seats
:Maximum number of seats
;Maximum permissible gross vehicle weight
rating Maximum number of seats
:determines the
maximum number of occupants allowed to
travel in the vehicle. This information can be
found on the Tire and Loading Information plac-
ard.
iThe details on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard illustration are only an exam-
ple. The number of seats is vehicle-specific
and can differ from the details shown. The
number of seats in your vehicle can be found
on the Tire and Loading Information placard.
Determining the maximum load
Individual steps
The following steps have been developed as
required of all manufacturers under Title 49,
Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 in
accordance with the "National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act of 1966".
XStep 1: Locate the statement "The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your vehicle's
Tire and Loading Information placard.
XStep 2: Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be travel-
ing in your vehicle.
XStep 3: Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kilograms or
XXX lbs.
XStep 4: The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage load capa- city. For example, if the "XXX" amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be five 150 pound
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400 Ò750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
XStep 5: Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehi-
cle. For reasons of safety, that weight must
not exceed the available cargo and luggage
cargo capacity calculated in step 4.
XStep 6 (if applicable): If you intend to tow a
trailer behind your vehicle, the load on the
trailer is transferred to your vehicle. Please
consult the Tire and Loading Information plac-
ard, to determine how this reduces the avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity of your
vehicle.
Loading the vehicle259
Wheels and tires
Z

Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a code
that contains the maximum load bearing capa-
city of a tire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the tires
and the road surface.
TWR (permissible trailer drawbar load)
The TWR is the maximum permissible weight
that may act on the ball coupling of the trailer
tow hitch.
Wear indicator
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are distrib-
uted over the tire tread. If the tire tread is level
with the bars, the wear limit ofáin(1.6 mm )
ha sbeen re ached.
Distribution of the vehicle occupants
The distribution of vehicle occupants over des-
ignated seat positions in a vehicle.
Maximum permissible payload weight
Nominal load and goods/luggage load plus
68 kg (150 lbs) multiplied by the number of
seats in the vehicle.
Flat tire
General notes
If your vehicle is equipped with a spare wheel,
the spare wheel is under the rear of the vehicle
(
Ypage 272).
Information about installing a wheel can be
found in the "Wheel change" section
(
Ypage 267).
Changing wheels
Rotating the wheels
GWARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions. The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of acci-
dent.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels and tires are of the same dimensions.
!On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are located
in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used near
the valve. This could damage the electronic
components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(
Ypage 267).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern
has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires in
the center.
If your vehicle's tire configuration allows, you
can rotate the wheels according to the intervals
in the tire manufacturer's warranty book in your
vehicle documents. If no warranty book is avail-
able, the tires should be rotated every 3,000 to
6,000 miles (5,000 to 10,000 km), or earlier if
tire wear requires. Do not change the direction
of rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel is rota-
ted.
Check the tire pressure and reactivate the tire
pressure monitor if necessary.
Diagram showing tire rotation for single and dual
tires
Single tires: if the tires are of identical dimen-
sions, you can rotate both wheels on both the
front and rear axles so that the tires' original
direction of rotation is maintained. On unidirec-
266Changing wheels
Wheels and tires