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236Vehicle careWheel coversWheel 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.
If the wheel covers and tyres used are
not factory approved, the tyres must
not have a rim protection ridge.
Wheel covers must not impair brake
cooling.9 Warning
Use of unsuitable tyres or wheel
covers could lead to sudden
pressure loss and thereby
accidents.
Vehicles with steel wheels: When
using locking wheel nuts, do not
attach wheel covers.
Tyre chains
Use tyre chains only on front wheels.
9 Warning
Damage may lead to tyre blowout.
4-door notchback
Always use fine mesh chains that add no more than 10 mm to the tyre tread
and the inboard sides (including chain
lock).
Tyre chains are only permitted on
tyres of size 205/60 R16 and
215/50 R17.3-door hatchback
Tyre chains are permitted on tyres of
size 225/55 R17. Always use fine
mesh chains that add no more than
10 mm to the tyre tread and the
inboard sides (including chain lock).
Tyre chains are also permitted on
tyres of size 245/45 R18. Always use
fine mesh chains that add no more
than 7 mm to the tyre tread and the inboard sides (including chain lock).OPC Version
Tyre chains are permitted on tyres of
size 235/45 R18. Always use fine
mesh chains that add no more than
10 mm to the tyre tread and the
inboard sides (including chain lock).General
The use of tyre chains is not permitted on the temporary spare wheel.
Tyre repair kit
Minor damage to the tyre tread can be
repaired with the tyre repair kit.
Do not remove foreign bodies from
the tyres.
Page 243 of 295
Vehicle care241
Install the wheel wrench ensuring
that it locates securely and loosen
each wheel nut by half a turn.
Variants 1b, 2 and 3 with foldable
wheel wrench:
Fold out the wheel wrench and
install ensuring that it locates
securely and loosen each wheel
nut by half a turn.
The wheels might be protected by
locking wheel nuts. To loosen
these specific nuts first attach the
adapter onto the head of the nut
before installing the wheel
wrench. The adapter is located in
the glovebox.
3. Ensure the jack is correctly positioned under the relevant
vehicle jacking point.
Some versions have sill
panellings with covered vehicle
jacking points: pull out the cover
at the respective jacking point
firstly.
4. 3-door hatchback and 4-door
notchback, jack variants 1a, 1b
and 3 3 228:
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242Vehicle care
Set the jack to the necessary
height. Position it directly below
the jacking point in a manner that
prevents it from slipping.
Attach jack handle and with the
jack correctly aligned rotate
handle until wheel is clear of the ground.
5. Unscrew the wheel nuts.
6. Change the wheel. Spare wheel 3 243.
7. Screw on the wheel nuts.
8. Lower the vehicle and remove jack.
9. Install the wheel wrench ensuring that it locates securely and tighten
each nut in a crosswise
sequence. Tightening torque is
140 Nm.
10. Align the valve hole in the wheel cover with the tyre valve before
installing.
Install wheel nut caps.
Install centre cap on alloy wheels.
11. Install vehicle jacking point cover on versions with sill panelling.
12. Stow the replaced wheel 3 243,
the vehicle tools 3 228 and the
adapter for the locking wheel nuts 3 61.
13. Check the tyre pressure of the installed tyre and the wheel nut
torque as soon as possible.Have the defective tyre renewed or repaired as soon as possible.
Jacking position for lifting platform
Rear arm position of the lifting
platform centrically under the recess
of the sill.
Page 247 of 295

Vehicle care245The floor cover can be placed on the
projecting wheel.Vehicles equipped with a temporary
spare wheel:
Secure a damaged full size wheel
facing upwards with the wing nut in the spare wheel well after exchanging
the thread bolt by an extension bolt,
placed in the tool bag 3 228. To
replace the bolt:
1. Install the hexagon key of the wheel wrench ensuring that it
locates securely on the bolt.
2. Turn the wheel wrench anticlockwise to loosen the bolt.
Remove the bolt.
3. Take the extension bolt from the tool bag 3 228 and screw it in
hand-tight using the hexagon key
of the wheel wrench.
4. Store the tool box and the damaged wheel with the side
facing upwards, in the spare
wheel well and secure it by turning
the wing nut clockwise on the bolt.
The floor cover can be placed on the
projecting wheel.
Replace the extension bolt with the short bolt before placing the
temporary spare wheel in the well
after renewing or repairing the
defective wheel.
Stowing the spare wheel back in
the well after replacing the
damaged wheel
1. Open the floor cover, loosen and remove wing nut.
Only 3-door hatchback: open floor
cover, remove rear storage,
loosen and remove wing nut and
conus.
2. Only 4-door notchback with temporary spare wheel: replace
the extension bolt with the short
bolt by using the hexagon key of
the wheel wrench.
3. Place the tools in the tool box or the tool bag 3 228.
4. Place spare wheel facing upwards, in the wheel well and
secure by tightening the wing nut.
Page 250 of 295

248Vehicle care3. Connect the black lead to thenegative terminal of the booster
vehicle battery.
4. Connect the other end of the black
lead to a vehicle grounding point,
such as the engine block or an
engine mounting bolt. Connect as far away from the discharged
vehicle battery as possible,
however at least 60 cm.
Route the leads so that they cannot
catch on rotating parts in the engine
compartment.
To start the engine: 1. Start the engine of the vehicle providing the jump.
2. After five minutes, start the other engine. Start attempts should be
made for no longer than
15 seconds at an interval of one
minute.
3. Allow both engines to idle for approx. three minutes with the
leads connected.4. Switch on electrical consumers (e.g. headlights, heated rear
window) of the vehicle receiving
the jump start.
5. Reverse above sequence exactly when removing leads.Towing
Towing the vehicle
Insert a screwdriver in the slot at the
lower part of the cap. Release the cap
by carefully moving the screwdriver
downwards.
The towing eye is stowed with the
vehicle tools 3 228.
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Vehicle care249
Screw in the towing eye as far as it will
go until it stops in a horizontal
position.
Attach a tow rope – or better still a tow
rod – to the towing eye.
The towing eye must only be used for towing and not for recovering the
vehicle.
Switch on ignition to release steering
wheel lock and to permit operation of
brake lights, horn and windscreen
wiper.
Transmission in neutral.
Caution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can
damage the vehicle.
When the engine is not running,
considerably more force is needed to
brake and steer.
To prevent the entry of exhaust gases from the towing vehicle, switch on the
air recirculation and close the
windows.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: The vehicle must be towed facing
forwards, not faster than 80 km/h nor further than 100 km. In all other cases
and when the transmission is
defective, the front axle must be
raised off the ground.
Seek the assistance of a workshop.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye.
Insert cap at the top and engage
downwards.
Towing another vehicle
Insert a screwdriver in the slot at the
lower bend of the cap. Release the
cap by carefully moving the
screwdriver downwards.
The towing eye is stowed with the
vehicle tools 3 228.
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250Vehicle care
Screw in the towing eye as far as it will
go until it stops in a horizontal
position.
The lashing eye at the rear
underneath the vehicle must never be used as a towing eye.
Attach a tow rope – or even better a
tow bar – to the towing eye.
The towing eye must only be used for
towing and not for recovering a
vehicle.
Caution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can
damage the vehicle.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye.
Insert cap at the top and engage
downwards.
Appearance care
Exterior care Locks
The locks are lubricated at the factory using a high quality lock cylinder
grease. Use de-icing agent only when absolutely necessary, as this has a
degreasing effect and impairs lock function. After using a de-icing agent,
have the locks regreased by a
workshop.
WashingThe paintwork of your vehicle is
exposed to environmental influences.
Wash and wax your vehicle regularly.
When using automatic vehicle
washes, select a programme that
includes waxing.
Bird droppings, dead insects, resin,
pollen and the like should be cleaned
off immediately, as they contain
aggressive constituents which can
cause paint damage.
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Vehicle care251If using a vehicle wash, comply with
the vehicle wash manufacturer's
instructions. The windscreen wiper and rear window wiper must be
switched off. Remove antenna and
external accessories such as roof
racks etc.
If you wash your vehicle by hand,
make sure that the insides of the
wheel housings are also thoroughly
rinsed out.
Clean edges and folds on opened
doors and the bonnet as well as the
areas they cover.
Clean bright metal mouldings with a
cleaning solution approved for
aluminium to avoid damages.Caution
Always use a cleaning agent with
a pH value of four to nine.
Do not use cleaning agents on hot surfaces.
Have the door hinges of all doors
greased by a workshop.
Do not clean the engine compartment with a steam-jet or high-pressure jet
cleaner.
On vehicles with emblem touchpad:
when cleaning with a high-pressure
jet cleaner ensure a minimum
distance of 30 cm when working
around the tailgate to prevent
unintended unlocking.
Thoroughly rinse and leather-off the
vehicle. Rinse leather frequently. Use
separate leathers for painted and
glass surfaces: remnants of wax on
the windows will impair vision.
Do not use hard objects to remove
spots of tar. Use tar removal spray on
painted surfaces.
Exterior lights
Headlight and other light covers are
made of plastic. Do not use any
abrasive or caustic agents, do not use an ice scraper, and do not clean them
dry.Polishing and waxing
Wax the vehicle regularly (at the
latest when water no longer beads).
Otherwise, the paintwork will dry out.
Polishing is necessary only if the paint
has become dull or if solid deposits
have become attached to it.
Paintwork polish with silicone forms a
protective film, making waxing
unnecessary.
Plastic body parts must not be treated with wax or polishing agents.
Windows and windscreen wiper
blades
Use a soft lint-free cloth or chamois
leather together with window cleaner and insect remover.
When cleaning the rear window from
inside, always wipe in parallel to the
heating element to prevent damage.
For mechanical removal of ice, use a
sharp-edged ice scraper. Press the
scraper firmly against the glass so
that no dirt can get under it and
scratch the glass.