Operation
Go to a specialised workshop as soon as
po s
s
ible and have the fault repaired. WARNING
Take it immediately to a specialised work-
shop and hav e the f
ault repaired: risk of acci-
dent! Note
If the lamp (in red) or (in
yellow) lights
up briefly, you may continue driving. Start-up lock security system (immo-
b
i
li
ser) There is an electronic chip in the key. The
el
ectr
onic
immobiliser is deactivated when
the key is inserted into the ignition. The elec-
tronic immobiliser is automatically activated
when the key is removed from the ignition.
The engine will not start if an unauthorised
key is used.
The informative display indicates:
Immobiliser active! Ignition lock
Fig. 173
Ignition key positions. Petrol engines
1 – Ignition switched off, engine stopped,
s t
eerin
g can be locked
2 – Ignition switched on
3 – Starting
Die sel
en
gines
1 – Fuel supply stopped, ignition switched
off , en
gine s
topped, steering can be locked
2 – Engine pre-heating, ignition switched
on
3 – Starting
T o en
g
age the Steering lock without the key
in the ignition, turn the steering wheel slight-
ly until you hear it engage. If the
steering lock is engaged and it i
s diffi-
cult or impossible to turn the key to position 2 , release the lock by turning the steering
wheel s
lightly
in both directions.
154
Operation
●
If the v
ehicle is stationary for a long time
with the ignition on, the vehicle battery
might be discharged and it might not be pos-
sible to start the engine. Starting the engine
Vehicles with a
diesel en
gine are equipped
with a glow plug system. When you switch on
the ignition, the glow plug warning lamp
will light up. The engine can be started
straight away when the lamp switches off.
Do not connect electrical appliances during
preheating so as not the drain the vehicle
battery unnecessarily.
Starting the engine
● Move the gearbox lever into neutral or
mov e the sel
ector lever to position P or N and
pull firmly on the handbrake.
● Press the clutch pedal all the way down
and star
t the engine 3
› ›
› Fig. 173
›
›› page 154, without pressing the accelera-
tor. Keep the clutch pedal pressed down until
the engine starts.
● Release the ignition key as soon as the en-
gine star
ts. The key returns to position 2 .
● If the engine does not start after 10 sec-
ond s, t
urn the k
ey back to position 1 . Re-
pe at
the action af
ter 30 seconds.
● Release the handbrake before moving off. Switching off the engine with the key Stop the engine by turning the ignition key to
pos
ition 1
››› Fig. 173 ›
›› page 154.
Brakes and brake servo sys-
tems Introduction WARNING
● The brak e ser
vo only works when the en-
gine is running. Braking when the engine is
switched off requires applying more strength
to the brake pedal. Risk of accident!
● Press down on the clutch pedal when stop-
ping and brak
ing with a manual gearbox, pet-
rol engine vehicle at low speed. Otherwise,
the brake servo might not work properly. Risk
of accident!
● In the event of damage to the standard
front s
poiler or where a different front spoil-
er, wheel trims, etc. are subsequently fitted,
make sure the air vent to the brakes on the
front wheels is not blocked. Otherwise, brak-
ing operations may be impaired. Risk of acci-
dent!
● Always fully release the handbrake. If it is
only p
artially released, this will cause over-
heating of the rear brakes, which can impair
the function of the brake system. Risk of acci-
dent! ●
Never l e
ave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could release the handbrake or
move the gear lever. The vehicle could start
moving. Risk of accident!
● Insufficient fuel can cause the engine to run
irregu
larly or to switch off. Brake assist sys-
tems could be impaired. Risk of accident!
● Always adjust your driving style to suit visi-
bility
, the weather and road and traffic condi-
tions. The best vehicle safety offered by
brake assist systems must never encourage
you to run greater risks. Risk of accident! CAUTION
● Ob ser
ve the information concerning new
brake pads ››› page 165.
● Where braking is not necessary, do not
wear do
wn the brake pads by pressing down
gently on the brake pedal. This causes the
brakes to overheat, increasing their wear and
increasing braking distances.
● To ensure the brake assist systems work
properly, a
ll wheels must be fitted with tyres
approved by the manufacturer. Note
● If y
ou brake suddenly and the brake system
control unit regards the situation as hazard-
ous for the drivers behind you, the brake
lights will begin to flash automatically. After
reducing speed to approximately 10 km/h (6
mph) or stopping the vehicle, the brake lights
will stop flashing and the hazard warning 156
Driving
lights will switch on. The hazard warning
lights
ar
e automatically switched off when
you accelerate or restart the vehicle.
● On long, steep gradients, reduce your
speed and ch
ange to a lower gear (manual
gearbox) or move the selector lever to a lower
gear position (automatic gearbox). This uses
the force of the engine and the brakes do not
suffer as much. If you still have to brake, do
so intermittently, pressing down repeatedly
on the brake pedal.
● Vehicle modifications (e.g. to the engine,
brake
s, frame or a combination of wheels and
tyres) could impair the brake assist systems
››› page 194, Accessories and modifications
to the vehicle .
● In the event of a fault in the ABS system,
the ESC, T
CS and EDL are switched off auto-
matically. A fault in the ABS is indicated by
the ››› page 159 warning lamp. Control lamp
The warning lamp i
l
lumin
ates if the brake
fluid level is too low or if there is a fault in the
ABS system.
The informative display indicates:
Brake fluid Instruction Manual!
Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine and
check the level of the brake fluid
››› page 211 WARNING
● The fo l
lowing indications must be taken in-
to account when opening the engine com-
partment to check the brake fluid
››› page 204, Engine compartment.
● If the warning lamp illumin
ates together
with the warning lamp ››› page 159, ,
stop the vehicle! Go to a technical service.
● A fault in the brake system or in the Anti-
lock br
ake system (ABS) can lead to longer
braking distances – Risk of accident! Brakes
Wear
The r
at
e of
wear of the brake pads depends
on the driving style and on the way in which
the vehicle is used. The brake pads will wear
more quickly if you use your vehicle frequent-
ly in urban traffic and short trips or drive in a
sporty style. Under these demanding condi-
tions, visit your specialised service, even be-
fore the scheduled service date, so that the
thickness of the brake pads can be meas-
ured.
Wet roads or road salt
If brakes are wet or frozen, or if you are driv-
ing on roads which have been gritted with
salt, braking power may set in later than nor-
mal. Dry the brakes as soon as possible by
braking repeatedly. Corrosion
Long period
s of inactivity and little use can
lead to rust on the brake discs and dirt on the
brake pads. Where the brake system is sub-
jected to light stress or in the case of corro-
sion, clean the brake discs by braking fully
several times at a high speed.
Brake system fault
If you notice that the braking distance sud-
denly increases and the brake pedal can be
pressed down more fully, there may be a fault
in the brake system. Visit a specialised serv-
ice immediately and adjust your driving style
to the extent of the damage and to limit the
effect of the brakes.
Low brake fluid level
Insufficient brake fluid could cause faults in
the brake system. The brake fluid level is con-
trolled electronically ››› page 157, Control
lamp.
Brake servo
The brake servo supplements the pressure
you exert on the brake pedal. The brake servo
only works when the engine is running.
157
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
Handbrake Fig. 176
Centre console: handbrake. Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up all the way.
R el
e
asing the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and
pres
s the unlock button at the same time
››› Fig. 176.
– Keep the button pressed down and push
the lever al
l the way down.
Control lamp
The warning lamp lights up when the hand-
brake is applied with the ignition on .
Additionally, driving the vehicle at speeds ex-
ceeding 6 km/h (4 mph) for at least 3 sec-
onds produces an audible warning.
The informative display indicates: Release the handbrake! Braking and stability systems
Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) The ESC system increases control of the vehi-
cl
e in emer
gency situations, e.g. during a
sudden change in direction. Depending on
the driving conditions, it reduces the risk of
skidding and increases driving stability.
The system uses the steering wheel angle
and road speed to calculate the changes of
direction desired by the driver, and constant-
ly compares them with the actual behaviour
of the vehicle. When irregularities occur, for
example, if the vehicle begins to skid, the
ESC brakes the appropriate wheel automati-
cally.
The warning lamp on the general instru-
ment panel starts flashing when the system
is working.
The stability (ESC) system includes the fol-
lowing systems:
● Anti-lock brake system (ABS),
● Traction control system (TCS),
● Electronic differential lock (EDL),
● Hydraulic brake assist system (HBA),
● Hill hold control (HHC). The ASR should be switched on at all times.
Only
u
nder certain circumstances should the
system be switched off, e.g.
● driving with chains,
● driving in deep snow or on very soft surfa-
ces,
● D
uring the “swinging movement” required
to remo
ve a stuck vehicle
Switch the ASR back on as soon as possible.
Brake assist system (HBA)*
The HBA system is activated when you press
down on the brake pedal suddenly. It increa-
ses braking power, helping to reduce braking
distances. To reduce braking distance as
much as possible, keep the brake pedal
pressed down firmly until the vehicle comes
to a standstill.
With the help of this system, the ABS is acti-
vated more quickly and more efficiently.
The brake assist function is deactivated auto-
matically when the brake pedal is released.
Hill hold control (HHC)*
The HHC system makes it easier to start the
vehicle on hills. The system maintains the
brake pressure created by pressing down on
the brake pedal for 2 seconds after it has
been released. Your foot can be removed
158
Driving
from the brake pedal and you can use the ac-
c el
er
ator pedal and move away on a hill with-
out having to use the handbrake. The brake
pressure drops as the accelerator pedal is
pressed. If the vehicle cannot be started, it
will start to move backwards after 2 seconds.
The HHC is activated on gradients of over
5%, if the driver door is closed. It only works
for starting on hills, moving both forward and
in reverse. It is not activated during start-up
down hill.
Control lamp
If the control lamp flashes, the ESC is
working.
If the warning lamp illuminates on igni-
tion, the ESC system may have switched off
due to technical reasons. Turn off the ignition
and turn it on again. Upon switching on the
ignition again, if the warning lamp has
switched off, this means the ESC is function-
ing correctly again.
If the warning lamp is illuminated there is
a fault in the ESC.
The informative display indicates:
Report No.: electronic stability
control (ESC)
or Report No.: Traction control
system (ASR) Go to a technical service. Note
If the battery is disconnected and connected
again, the y
ellow warning lamp lights up
when the ignition is switched on. This warn-
ing lamp must switch off after covering a
short distance. Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
The ABS system prevents the wheels locking
durin
g br
ak
ing. This helps the driver keep
control of the vehicle.
The driver is made aware of ABS assistance
by the pulsating of the brake pedal and a
characteristic noise.
Keep the brake pedal pressed down while the
ABS is working. The ABS will switch off when
the brake pedal is released. Never brake in-
termittently while the ABS is working!
Control lamp
If the warning lamp is illuminated, there is
a fault in the ABS.
The informative display indicates:
ABS fault
The brake system alone is operational in the
vehicle, without ABS.
Go to a technical service. WARNING
● If the w
arning lamp illuminates together
with the ››› page 157 warning lamp, ,
stop the vehicle! Go to a technical service.
● A fault in the Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
can le
ad to longer braking distances – Risk of
accident! Anti-slip regulation of the driving
wheels
(ASR)
* If the wheels start to slip, the TCS adapts the
en
gine s
peed t
o the driving conditions. Par-
ticularly in unfavourable conditions, the TCS
helps starting, accelerating and hill starts.
If the control lamp flashes, the ASR is
working.
If the warning lamp illuminates on igni-
tion, the TCS system may have switched off
due to technical reasons. Turn off the ignition
and turn it on again. Upon switching on the
ignition again, if the warning lamp has
switched off, this means the TCS is function-
ing correctly again.
If the warning lamp remains illuminated,
there is a fault in the TCS.
The informative display indicates:
Report No.: Traction control
system (ASR) »
159
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
Go to a technical service.
Electronic differential lock If one of the wheels starts to skid, the EDL
brak
e
s that wheel, transmitting the driving
force to the other wheels. This increases ve-
hicle stability and improves driving stability.
To prevent the disc brake of the braking
wheel from overheating, the EDL cuts out au-
tomatically if subjected to excessive loads.
The vehicle will continue to function normally
without EDL. The EDL will switch on again au-
tomatically when the brake has cooled down. Manual gearbox
Chan gin
g gears Fig. 177
Gear shift diagram of a 5- or 6-speed
m anual
g
earbox Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 35
When changing gear, always depress the
clutch pedal fully and keep it pressed down
to avoid excessive clutch wear.
In order to drive at an optimum RPM, follow
the gear change indications ›››
page 29.
Engage reverse gear only when the vehicle is
stopped. On engaging reverse gear while the
engine is running, first wait a moment with
the clutch pedal pressed down fully to limit
gear shift noise.
The reverse lights switch on when the reverse
gear is selected and the ignition is on. WARNING
Never engage reverse gear when moving for-
war d. Ri
sk of accident! Note
Do not rest your hand on the gear lever while
drivin g.
The pressure of your hand could lead
to premature wear of the gear system. Automatic gearbox
Ba s
ic information The gearbox changes up and down automati-
c
al
ly
. The gearbox can be set to Tiptronic
mode. The gears can be changed manually in
this mode ›››
page 163.
The engine can only be started in positions P
or N. If, on engaging the steering lock,
switching the ignition on/off or starting the
engine, the selector lever is not in these posi-
tions, the informative display will show Move
the selector lever to position
P/N! , or
P/N is shown on the general
dash panel display.
At temperatures below -10°C (14°F), the en-
gine can only be started in position P.
Move the selector lever to position P when
parking the vehicle on a flat surface. On a
160
Driving
slope, the handbrake should be firmly ap-
p lied bef
or
e moving the selector lever to the
park position. This reduces the load on the
lock mechanism while making it easier to
move the selector lever from position P.
If, while the vehicle is moving, the selector
lever is accidentally moved to position N, re-
lease the accelerator and wait for the engine
to idle before moving it back into position. WARNING
● Never pr e
ss the accelerator when selecting
the automatic gearbox operating mode when
the vehicle is stationary. Risk of accident!
● Never move the selector lever to positions
R or P when driving. Ri
sk of accident!
● If the vehicle is to be stopped with a gear
selected and the en
gine idling (e.g. waiting
or moving slowly at traffic lights), press down
on the brake pedal because the transmission
is not entirely interrupted when the engine is
idling and the vehicle will tend to start mov-
ing.
● Apply the handbrake firmly and put the se-
lector l
ever in position P before opening the
bonnet and working on the vehicle with the
engine running. Risk of accident! Strictly fol-
low the safety instructions ››› page 204, En-
gine compartment.
● When stopping on a slope (hill), try not to
stop the
vehicle from moving by pressing the
“accelerator” with a gear selected. This could
overheat the clutch. If the clutch risks being burnt due to this force, it would switch off
and the v
ehic
le could move backwards. Risk
of accident!
● If you have to stop on a hill, press down on
the brake ped
al to stop the vehicle from mov-
ing.
● The drive wheels could lose traction on a
slipper
y road surface when the kick-down
function is activated. Risk of sliding! CAUTION
● In D SG aut om
atic gearboxes, the double
clutch is protected from overloads. If the hill
hold control is used, the clutches are subjec-
ted to greater force if the vehicle is at a
standstill on a slope or suddenly accelerating
on a slope.
● Should the clutches overheat, the sym-
bol i
s shown on the informative display with
a warning message Gear overheated.
Stop! Instruction Manual! An audible
warning is also heard. Stop the vehicle in this
case, stop the engine and wait until the sym-
bol has switched off. Danger of damage to
the gearbox! You can continue driving once
the symbol is switched off. Starting and driving
Starting
– Press and hold the brake pedal. –
Pr e
s
s and hold the interlock button on the
selector lever knob and move the selector
lever to position ››› page 162 before releas-
ing the interlock button.
– Release the brake and press the accelera-
tor.
St
opping
– The selector lever does not have to be
moved t
o position N if the vehicle is stop-
ped for a short period, e.g. at intersections.
Applying the brake is enough. However, the
engine must remain idling.
Parking
– Press the brake pedal.
– Apply the handbrake.
– Press the interlock button, move the selec-
tor lev
er to position P and release the but-
ton.
Kick-down feature
The kick-down feature allows maximum ac-
celeration to be reached.
In any gear programme, press down fully on
the accelerator for the automatic gearbox to
activate the kick-down feature. This function
takes priority over the gear programmes with-
out taking into account the position of the se-
lector lever (D, S or Tiptronic) and is used to
reach maximum acceleration, using full »
161
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
Engine management* This warning lamp monitors the engine man-
agement
sy
stem for petrol engines.
The warning lamp (Electronic Power Con-
trol) lights up when the ignition is switched
on while system operation is being verified. It
should go out once the engine is started.
If there is a fault in the electronic engine
management system while you are driving,
this warning lamp will light up. Take the vehi-
cle to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible and have the engine checked.
Emission control system* Control lamp
fla
she
s:
When there is misfiring that can damage the
catalytic converter. Reduce speed and drive
carefully to the nearest specialised workshop
to have the engine checked.
The control lamp lights up:
If a fault has developed during driving which
has reduced the quality of the exhaust gas
(e.g. lambda probe fault). Reduce speed and
drive carefully to the nearest specialised
workshop to have the engine checked. Engine pre-heating/fault system* The warning lamp lights up to show that the
glow p
lug
s are preheating the diesel engine.
The control lamp lights up
If the control lamp lights up when the en-
gine is started it means that the glow plugs
are preheating. The engine can be started
straight away when the lamp switches off.
Control lamp flashes
If a fault develops in the engine management
system while you are driving, the glow plug
system lamp will flash . Take the vehicle to
a specialised workshop as soon as possible
and have the engine checked. Driving tips
Drivin g thr
ough flooded roads Fig. 181
Driving through water. To prevent the vehicle from being damaged
when driv
in
g thr
ough water (i.e. flooded
roads), please observe the following:
● Determine the depth of the water before
entering.
Water can reach a maximum height
of below the door sill ››› Fig. 181.
● Drive at a maximum pace of walking speed.
Driving at
a higher speed can cause a wave
in front of the vehicle, which can cause water
to enter the engine air intake system or other
parts of the vehicle.
● Never stop in the water, never reverse and
never st
op the engine.
● Before driving through water deactivate the
Start
-Stop system ››› page 183. »
169
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety