Page 137 of 195

Driving and operating135Trailer hitch
General information
Only use towing equipment that has
been approved for your vehicle.
Vehicles with natural gas engine may
require special towing equipment.
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, 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
and caravan trailers with a permitted
gross vehicle weight of more than
1300 kg the use of a stabiliser is
strongly recommended when driving
above 80 km/h.
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 3 185.
Trailer towing
Trailer loads 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).
The permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is
specified on the identification plate
3 175.
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.
Page 141 of 195
Vehicle care139Vehicle 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.
9 Danger
The ignition system uses
extremely high voltage. Do not
touch.
Bonnet
Opening
Pull the release lever and return it to
its original position.
Move the safety catch sideways and
open the bonnet.
Secure the bonnet support.
Page 143 of 195

Vehicle care141Capacities 3 184.
Fit the cap on straight and tighten it.
Engine coolant
The coolant provides freeze
protection down to approx. -28 °C. In
cold regions with very low
temperatures, the factory filled
coolant provides frost protection
down to approx. -37 °C.Caution
Only use approved antifreeze.
Coolant level
Caution
Too low a coolant level can cause engine damage.
If the cooling system is cold, the
coolant level should be between the
MIN and MAX mark. Top up if the
level is low.
9 Warning
Allow the engine to cool before
opening the cap. Carefully open
the cap, relieving the pressure
slowly.
To top up, use a 1:1 mixture of
approved coolant concentrate mixed
with clean tap water. If no coolant
concentrate is available, use clean
tap water. Install the cap tightly. Have
the coolant concentration checked
and have the cause of the coolant
loss remedied by a workshop.
Coolant and antifreeze 3 173.
Power steering fluidCaution
Extremely small amounts of
contamination can cause steering
system damage and cause it to not
work properly. Do not allow
contaminates to contact the fluid
side of the reservoir cap/dipstick or
from entering the reservoir.
Page 161 of 195

Vehicle care159Changing tyre and wheelsize
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.
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.
Tyre chains
Tyre chains are only permitted on the
front wheels.
Always use fine mesh chains that add no more than 10 mm to the tyre tread
and the inboard sides (including chain lock).
Do not exceed 50 km/h when tyre
chains are fitted.9 Warning
Damage may lead to tyre blowout.
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.
Tyre damage exceeding 4 mm or that is at tyre's sidewall cannot be repairedwith the tyre repair kit.
9 Warning
Do not drive faster than 80 km/h.
Do not use for a lengthy period.
Steering and handling may be
affected.
If you have a flat tyre: