Trailer towing
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Headlight adjustment
Towing a trailer can raise the front end of the vehicle enough for the dipped beam to blind other
road users. Use the headlight range control to lower the light cone as required. Vehicles with
automatic headlight range adjustment are adjusted automatically.
Things to note when driving with a trailer
•If the trailer has an overrun brake, apply the brakes gently at first and then firmly. This will
prevent the jerking that can be caused by the trailer wheels locking.
•The combination weight causes the braking distance to increase.
•Engage a lower gear prior to inclines (manual gearbox or Tiptronic mode of the automatic
gearbox) to additionally make use of engine braking. The brake system could otherwise
overheat and fail.
•The vehicle's centre of gravity and, in turn, the vehicle's handling, will change because of the
trailer load and the increased combined towing weight of the vehicle and trailer.
•The weight distribution of a loaded trailer with an unladen towing vehicle is very unfavourable.
When driving in this situation, drive particularly carefully and slowly.
Pulling off on slopes when towing a trailer
A vehicle towing a trailer is liable to roll back a short distance when moving off on a slope,
depending on the angle of the slope and the total weight of the trailer and vehicle.
When towing a trailer, pull off on slopes as follows:
•Depress and hold the brake pedal.
•Press button once to switch off the electronic parking brake ⇒ Electronic parking
brake.
•Manual gearbox: depress the clutch fully.
•Select first gear ⇒ Manual gearbox: selecting a gear or selector lever position D/S⇒ DSG dual
clutch gearbox.
•Pull on the button and hold it in this position to hold the vehicle and trailer with the
electronic parking brake.
•Release the brake pedal.
•Pull away slowly. To do this, slowly release the clutch pedal for a manual gearbox.
•Only let go of the button when the engine has sufficient power to move off.
Trailer stabilisation
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
The trailer stabilisation function can detect if an attached trailer is starting to lurch from side to side
and can provide countersteer.
Trailer stabilisation is a subsidiary function of the Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
®
Incorrect trailer towing can cause loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury.
•Towing a trailer and transporting heavy or bulky items can change the way the vehicle
handles and increase the braking distance.
•Always drive carefully and think ahead. Brake earlier than in normal driving.
•Always adapt your speed and driving style to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic
conditions. Reduce your speed, particularly when going downhill.
•Accelerate carefully and gently. Avoid abrupt and sudden driving and braking
manoeuvres.
•Take special care when overtaking. Reduce your speed immediately if the trailer shows
even the slightest sign of snaking.
•Never try to stop a trailer from snaking by increasing your speed.
•Keep to speed limits which may be lower for vehicles with trailers than for vehicles
without trailers.
WARNING
Notes on tow-starting and towing
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Tow rope, tow bar
It is easier and safer to tow a vehicle with a tow bar. Only use a tow rope if you do not have a tow
bar.
The tow rope should be slightly elastic to reduce the strain on both vehicles. It is advisable to use a
tow rope made of synthetic fibre or similarly elastic material.
Only attach the tow rope or tow bar to the specially provided towing eyes or to the towing bracket.
Vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket must only use tow bars that are specially designed
to fit a ball head ⇒ Trailer towing.
Tow-starting
Vehicles should not be tow-started wherever possible. Instead have the vehicle jump-started
⇒ Jump starting or collected by a recovery vehicle.
However, if the vehicle still has to be tow-started:
•Engage second or third gear.
•Keep the clutch pressed down.
•Switch on the ignition and the hazard warning lights.
•Once both vehicles are in motion, release the clutch.
•As soon as the engine starts, press the clutch and put the gear into neutral. This helps to
prevent driving into the towing vehicle.
When should your vehicle not be towed?
•The vehicle gearbox is damaged or does not contain any lubricant.
•The 12-volt vehicle battery is discharged. The steering system is still locked and the electronic
parking brake and electronic steering column lock, if applied, cannot be released.
•The distance to be towed is further than 50 km.
Never tow a vehicle that has no power supply.
•Never remove the vehicle key from the ignition or switch off the ignition using the
starter button during towing. This could cause the mechanical steering column lock
(steering lock) or the electronic steering column lock to engage suddenly. You will no
longer be able to steer the vehicle. This can lead to a loss of control of the vehicle,
accidents and serious injuries.
•If the power supply to the towed vehicle is disconnected, stop towing immediately and
seek expert assistance.
WARNING
If a vehicle is being towed, the vehicle handling and braking effect will change
significantly. Please note the following in order to reduce the risk of an accident or serious
injuries:
•Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle:
- You will need to depress the brake pedal more vigorously than normal as the
brake servo is not working. Always be careful not to drive into the vehicle that is
pulling your vehicle.
- You will need to turn the steering wheel more vigorously as the power-assisted
steering function is not working.
•Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
- Accelerate carefully and gently.
- Avoid sudden braking and driving manoeuvres.
- Brake earlier than normal by pressing lightly on the brake pedal.
WARNING
•Remove and install the cover and the towing eye carefully so as to avoid damage to the
vehicle, e.g. the paintwork.
•Unburnt fuel can enter the catalytic converter and damage it while the vehicle is being
towed.
NOTICE
•Open the Vehicle settings menu in the Infotainment system.
•Touch the Tyres function button.
•Touch the SET function button.
•When all four tyre pressures correspond to the required values, touch the Confirm function
button.
After an extended driving time with driving at different speeds, the system will automatically learn
the new values and monitor them.
•If the tyre pressures have been changed.
•If one or more wheels have been changed.
•If the wheels have been swapped round, e.g. from front to rear ⇒ Rotating wheels front to rear.
The Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator stops working if there is a fault in the ESC or ABS ⇒ Brake
support systems.
After a warning about the tyre pressure being too low, switch the ignition off and then back
on again. The Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator can only then be re-synchronised.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
Fig. 234 Typical display in the instrument cluster: current tyre pressures.
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Key to ⇒ Fig. 234:
Target pressure in bar.
Actual pressure in bar.
Loss in pressure in front left.
System fault for rear right tyre.
The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) monitors the tyre pressure of the four wheels while
the vehicle is in motion using pressure sensors on the tyres. The system warns the driver in the
event of a pressure loss.
Display of tyre pressures on the instrument cluster
Open the menu Vehicle status in the instrument cluster display ⇒ Instrument cluster. The vehicle
is displayed with the target and actual pressures of all the wheels ⇒ Fig. 234.
When the ignition is switched on, the last measured tyre pressures will be displayed first; these
values will be updated when the journey is started. If the tyre pressure is too low, the respective
actual values and the affected tyres will be marked ⇒ Fig. 234.
If the tyres are in rest state, the sensors will not transmit any tyre pressures. This stops the sensor
batteries discharging.
If no tyre pressures are transmitted, the last received values are shown in grey.
Switching the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System on and off
Observe any country-specific legal requirements for the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
If a set of tyres is fitted to the vehicle where the tyres either do not have wheel sensors or have
wheel sensors that are not compatible with the vehicle, the indicator lamp will flash for
approximately one minute and then light up steadily. The tyre pressures will not be monitored. The
system cannot be switched off.
Adjusting the tyre pressure
Following any relevant change in the vehicle load, the tyre pressure must be checked and altered
as necessary. The tyre pressures recommended for the vehicle are on a sticker on the driver door
pillar or on the inside of the tank flap ⇒ Tyre pressure.
1)