Driving and operating139Bus
The engine is restarted automatically
when operating the power sliding
door switch on the instrument panel
during an Autostop.
Sliding door 3 28.
Restart of the engine by the stop- start system
If one of the following conditions occurs during an Autostop, the
engine may be restarted
automatically by the stop-start
system. Control indicator Ï will flash
green in the instrument cluster during an automatic engine restart.
● the vehicle battery is discharged
● the ambient temperature is too low
● the defrosting function is activated
● the brake vacuum is not sufficient
● the brake pedal is operated repeatedly
● the vehicle starts to moveAn automatic engine restart may not
be possible if a door or the bonnet is
open.
If an electrical accessory, e.g. a
portable CD player, is connected to
the power outlet, a brief power drop during restart might be noticeable.
If the Infotainment system is active,
audio sound may briefly be reduced
or interrupted during the restart.
Fault
If control indicator Ï illuminates
yellow, or the LED illuminates in
deactivation button Î without first
being pressed to deactivate the
system, there is a fault in the stop-
start system 3 100. A corresponding
message also appears in the Driver
Information Centre 3 102.
Seek the assistance of a workshop. Warning chimes 3 103.Parking9 Warning
● Do not park the vehicle on an
easily ignitable surface. The
high temperature of the
exhaust system could ignite the
surface.
● Always apply parking brake without pressing release
button. Apply as firmly as
possible on a downhill slope or
uphill slope. Depress brake
pedal at the same time to
reduce operating force.
● Switch off the engine.
● If the vehicle is on a level surface or uphill slope, engage
first gear. On an uphill slope,
turn the front wheels away from
the kerb.
If the vehicle is on a downhill
slope, engage reverse gear.
Turn the front wheels towards the kerb.
140Driving and operating● Close the windows.
● Turn the ignition key to position
0 and remove it. Turn the
steering wheel until the
steering wheel lock is felt to
engage.
Lock the vehicle 3 24 and activate the
anti-theft locking system 3 34 and
anti-theft alarm system 3 34.
Air suspension
Operates automatically when the
vehicle is driven. The air suspension
system constantly adjusts the ride
height according to the vehicle load.
Caution
To ensure safe operation of the air
suspension system, do not exceed the maximum permissible gross
vehicle weight rating. Refer to
identification plate 3 225 or the
vehicle documents.
For further information on the air
suspension system, refer to the
operating instructions supplied.
Master switchCaution
The air suspension system must
be switched off when the vehicle is being towed, jump‐started, raised
off the ground or transported.
Do not switch off the air
suspension system when driving.
Jump starting 3 213, Towing the
vehicle 3 215.
The master switch is located on the
door pillar.
Switch on to enable operation and
adjustment of the air suspension
system.
Switch off to put the vehicle into
service mode.
Remote control
When increased ground clearance or improved vehicle access is required,the suspension can be raised or
lowered using the remote control.
142Driving and operatingEngine exhaust9Danger
Engine exhaust gases contain
poisonous carbon monoxide,
which is colourless and odourless and could be fatal if inhaled.
If exhaust gases enter the interior
of the vehicle, open the windows.
Have the cause of the fault
rectified by a workshop.
Avoid driving with an open load
compartment, otherwise exhaust
gases could enter the vehicle.
Diesel particle filter
The diesel particle filter system filters
harmful soot particles out of the
exhaust gases. The system includes
a self-cleaning function that runs
automatically during driving without
any notification.
The filter is cleaned by periodically
burning off the soot particles at high
temperature. This process takes
place automatically under set driving
conditions. Autostop is not available
and fuel consumption may be higher
during this period. The emission of
smells and smoke during this process is normal.
Under certain driving conditions, e.g.
short distances, the system cannot
clean itself automatically.
If cleaning of the filter is required and
if previous driving conditions did not
enable automatic cleaning, it will be
indicated by illumination of control
indicator A 3 97. Seek the
assistance of a workshop
immediately.Caution
If the cleaning process is
interrupted, there is a risk of
provoking severe engine damage.
Cleaning takes place quickest at high engine speeds and loads.
Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter reduces the
amount of harmful substances in the
exhaust gases.
Caution
Fuel grades other than those listed on page 3 168, 3 227 could
damage the catalytic converter or
electronic components.
Unburnt fuel will overheat and
damage the catalytic converter.
Therefore avoid excessive use of the starter, running the fuel tank
dry and starting the engine by
pushing or towing.
In the event of misfiring, uneven
engine running, a reduction in engine performance or other unusual
problems, have the cause of the fault
rectified by a workshop as soon as
possible. In an emergency, driving
can be continued for a short period,
keeping vehicle speed and engine
speed low.
If control indicator Z flashes, the
permitted emission limits may be
exceeded. Lift your foot off the
accelerator until Z stops flashing and
is steadily illuminated. Contact a
workshop immediately.
Driving and operating151Starting the engine
Depress the brake pedal when
starting the engine. If the brake pedal
is not depressed, T illuminates in the
transmission display and the engine
cannot be started.
When the brake pedal is depressed,
the transmission automatically shifts
to N (neutral); "N" appears in the
transmission display and the engine
can be started. There may be a slight delay.
Selector leverAlways move the selector lever in the
appropriate direction as far as it will
go. Upon release, it automatically
returns to the centre position.N:neutralA/M:switch between automatic and manual mode
The transmission display
shows "A" when in automatic
mode.R:reverse gear
Engage only when vehicle is
stationary. The transmission
display shows "R" when
reverse gear is engaged.+:shift to a higher gear.-:shift to a lower gear.
Starting off
When the engine is started, the
transmission is in automatic mode. Depress the brake pedal and move
the selector lever towards + to
engage first gear.
If R is selected, reverse gear is
engaged. The vehicle starts to move
when the brake pedal is released. To
start off quickly, release the brake pedal and accelerate immediately
after engaging a gear.
In automatic mode the transmission
shifts to other gears automatically,
dependent on driving conditions.
To engage manual mode, move the
selector lever towards A/M. The
current gear will appear in the
transmission display.
To engage first gear, depress brake
pedal and move selector lever
towards + or -. Shift to a higher or
lower gear by moving selector lever to + or -. Gears can be skipped by
moving the selector lever repeatedly
at short intervals.
Stopping the vehicle In automatic or manual mode,
first gear is engaged and the clutch is
released when the vehicle is stopped.
In R, reverse gear remains engaged.
When stopping on gradients, engage
parking brake or depress the brake
pedal. To prevent overheating of the
clutch, an intermittent audible
154Driving and operatingInterruption of power supplyThe clutch is not disengaged if there
is an interruption of the power supply
when a gear is engaged. The vehicle
cannot move.
If the vehicle battery is discharged,
start the vehicle using jump leads
3 213.
If the cause of the fault is not a
discharged vehicle battery, seek the
assistance of a workshop.
If neutral cannot be selected, the
vehicle must only be towed with the
drive wheels raised off the ground
3 215.
Towing the vehicle 3 215.Brakes
The brake system comprises two
independent brake circuits.
If a brake circuit fails, the vehicle can
still be braked using the other brake
circuit. However, braking effect is
achieved only when you depress the
brake pedal firmly. You need to use
considerably more force for this. The
braking distance is extended. Seek
the assistance of a workshop before
continuing your journey.
When the engine is not running, the
support of the brake servo unit
disappears once the brake pedal has
been depressed once or twice.
Braking effect is not reduced, but
braking requires significantly greater
force. It is especially important to bear this in mind when being towed.
Control indicator R 3 98.
Antilock brake system
Antilock brake system (ABS)
prevents the wheels from locking.ABS starts to regulate brake pressure as soon as a wheel shows a tendency to lock. The vehicle remains
steerable, even during hard braking.
ABS control is made apparent
through a pulse in the brake pedal
and the noise of the regulation
process.
For optimum braking, keep the brake
pedal fully depressed throughout the
braking process, despite the fact that
the pedal is pulsating. Do not reduce
the pressure on the pedal.
Control indicator u 3 98.
Fault
If control indicators u and A
illuminate with the messages CHECK
ABS and CHECK ESP in the Driver
Information Centre, there is a fault in
the ABS. The brake system remains
operational but without ABS
regulation.
Driving and operating171Trailer hitch
General information
Only use towing equipment that has
been approved for your vehicle.
Entrust fitting of towing equipment at
a later date to a workshop. It may be
necessary to make changes that
affect the cooling system, heat
shields or other equipment.
Driving characteristics and towing tips
In the case of trailers with brakes,
attach the breakaway stopping cable.
Before attaching a trailer, lubricate
the 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 the use of a
stabiliser is recommended.
A maximum speed of 80 km/h must
not be exceeded, even in countries
where higher speeds are permitted.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 3 246.
Trailer towing
Trailer loads The permissible trailer loads are
vehicle-dependent 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 sealevel. Since engine power decreases as altitude increases due to the airbecoming 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).
The permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is
specified on the identification plate
3 225.
Vertical coupling load
The vertical coupling load is the load
exerted by the trailer on the coupling
ball. It can be varied by changing the
weight distribution when loading the
trailer.
The maximum permissible vertical
coupling load is specified on the
towing equipment identification plate
and in the vehicle documents. Always aim for the maximum load, especially in the case of heavy trailers. The
vertical coupling load should never
fall below 25 kg.
172Driving and operatingIn the case of trailer loads of
1200 kg or more, the vertical coupling load should not be less than 50 kg.
Rear axle load When the trailer is coupled and the
towing vehicle fully loaded (including all occupants), the permissible rear
axle load (see identification plate or
vehicle documents) must not be
exceeded.
Towing equipmentCaution
When operating without a trailer,
remove the coupling ball bar.
Towing equipment audible
warning
For vehicles fitted with towing
equipment, when connected to a
trailer the pitch of the audible warning
changes upon operation of the turn
signals.
The pitch of the audible warning will
change if a turn signal light on the
trailer or the towing vehicle fails.
Trailer stability assist
If the system detects snaking
movements, engine power is reduced
and the vehicle/trailer combination is
selectively braked until the snaking ceases. While the system is working,keep steering wheel as still as
possible.
Trailer stability assist (TSA) is a
function of the Electronic Stability
Program (ESP) 3 157.Auxiliary features
Power take-off
Activation
To activate the power take-off, with
the vehicle stationary and the engine
idling:
● Set the gearshift lever to neutral (vehicles with manual
transmission automated:
selector lever in position N).
● Depress the clutch pedal.
174Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................175
Accessories and vehicle modifications .......................... 175
Vehicle storage ........................175
End-of-life vehicle recovery .....176
Vehicle checks ........................... 176
Performing work ......................176
Bonnet ..................................... 176
Engine oil ................................. 177
Engine coolant ......................... 178
Power steering fluid .................179
Washer fluid ............................ 180
Brakes ..................................... 180
Brake fluid ............................... 180
Vehicle battery ......................... 181
Diesel fuel filter ........................183
Diesel fuel system bleeding .....183
Wiper blade replacement ........184
Bulb replacement .......................185
Headlights ............................... 185
Adaptive forward lighting .........187
Fog lights ................................. 188
Front turn signal lights .............188
Tail lights ................................. 189
Side turn signal lights ..............190Centre high-mounted brake
light ......................................... 191
Number plate light ...................192
Interior lights ............................ 192
Instrument panel illumination ...193
Electrical system ........................194
Fuses ....................................... 194
Engine compartment fuse box . 195
Instrument panel fuse box .......195
Load compartment fuse box ....196
Vehicle tools .............................. 198
Tools ........................................ 198
Wheels and tyres .......................199
Tyres ....................................... 199
Winter tyres ............................. 200
Tyre designations ....................200
Tyre pressure .......................... 200
Tyre pressure monitoring system .................................... 201
Tread depth ............................. 203
Changing tyre and wheel size . 203 Wheel covers ........................... 204
Tyre chains .............................. 204
Tyre repair kit .......................... 204
Wheel changing .......................208
Spare wheel ............................ 210
Jump starting ............................. 213Towing....................................... 215
Towing the vehicle ...................215
Towing another vehicle ...........216
Appearance care .......................217
Exterior care ............................ 217
Interior care ............................. 219