Page 185 of 267

Driving and operating1839Danger
Fuel is flammable and explosive.
No smoking. No naked flames or
sparks.
If you can smell fuel in your
vehicle, have the cause of this
remedied immediately by a
workshop.
A label with symbols at the fuel filler
flap is indicating the allowed fuel
types. In Europe the pump nozzles of the filling stations are marked with
these symbols. Refuel only the
allowed fuel type.
Caution
In case of misfuelling, do not
switch on ignition.
Fuel filler flap is located at right rear
side of vehicle.
The fuel filler flap can only be opened
if the vehicle is unlocked. Release the
fuel filler flap by pushing the flap.
To open, turn the cap slowly
anticlockwise.
The fuel filler cap can be retained in
the bracket on the fuel filler flap.
To refuel, fully insert the pump nozzle
and switch it on.
After the automatic cut-off, the tank can be topped up by operating the
pump nozzle a maximum of two more
times.Caution
Wipe off any overflowing fuel
immediately.
To close, turn the fuel filler cap
clockwise until it clicks.
Close the flap and allow it to engage.
Vehicles with misfuel inhibitor
9 Warning
Do not try to open the flap of the
fuel filler neck manually on
vehicles with misfuel inhibitor.
Disregard could lead to trapping of
the fingers.
Page 186 of 267

184Driving and operatingVehicles with a selective catalytic
reduction system are equipped with a
misfuel inhibitor.
The misfuel inhibitor ensures that the flap of the fuel filler neck can only be
opened by using a nozzle for diesel
fuel or a funnel for emergency
refilling.
Turn the fuel filler cap slowly
anticlockwise.
The cap can be retained in the
bracket on the fuel filler flap.
Place the nozzle in a straight line to the filler neck and press with slight
force to insert.
In case of an emergency, refill with a
canister. A funnel must be used to
open the cap of the filler neck.
The funnel is located in the load
compartment.
Place the funnel in a straight line to
the filler neck and press with slight
force to insert.
Use the funnel to fill the diesel fuel into the filler neck.
After topping-up, put the funnel into
the plastic bag and stow it in the
storage compartment.
Selective catalytic reduction system
3 145.
Fuel filler cap
Only use genuine fuel filler caps. Diesel-engined vehicles have special fuel filler caps.
Page 187 of 267

Driving and operating185Trailer hitch
General information
Only use towing equipment that has
been approved for your vehicle.
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.
The bulb outage detection function for trailer brake light cannot detect a
partial bulb outage, e.g. in case of 4 x
5 Watt bulbs, the function only detects
lamp outage when only a single
5 Watt lamp remains or none remain.
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
1200 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 3 248.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).
Page 188 of 267

186Driving and operatingThe permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is
specified on the identification plate
3 239.
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 (75 kg) 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.Rear axle load
When the trailer is coupled and the
towing vehicle fully loaded, the
permissible rear axle load (see
identification plate or vehicle
documents) may be exceeded by 100 kg, the gross vehicle weight
rating may be exceeded by 100 kg. If
the permissible rear axle load is
exceeded, a maximum speed of
100 km/h applies.
Towing equipmentCaution
When operating without a trailer,
remove the coupling ball bar.
Stowage of coupling ball bar
The coupling ball bar is stowed in a
bag and must be secured in the load
compartment.
Vehicle with spare wheel
The bag with the coupling ball bar is
placed near the spare wheel under
the load floor cover.
Direct the strap through the rim and around the wheel, wrap it around the
coupling ball bar and tighten the strap
to secure the bag.
Page 189 of 267
Driving and operating187Vehicles with tyre repair kit
The bag with the coupling ball bar is
placed near the tyre repair kit box
under the load floor cover.
The strap is directed around the
threaded bolt under the tyre repair kit box. Wrap the strap around the
coupling ball bar and tighten the strap
to secure the bag.
Vehicles with flat load compartment
floor
The bag with the coupling ball bar is
stowed on the right side of the load
compartment floor.
Direct the strap through the rear right
lashing eye, wrap it twice around the
coupling ball bar and tighten the strap
to secure the bag.
Fitting the coupling ball bar
Disengage and fold down the socket. Remove the sealing plug from the
opening for the coupling ball bar and
stow it.
Page 190 of 267
188Driving and operatingChecking the tensioning of the
coupling ball bar
● Red marking on rotary knob must
point towards green marking on
coupling ball bar.
● The gap between the rotary knob
and the coupling ball bar must be approx. 6 mm.
● The key must be in position c.
Otherwise, the coupling ball bar must be tensioned before being inserted:
● Unlock coupling ball bar by turning key to position c.
● Pull out rotary knob and turn
clockwise as far as it will go.
Inserting the coupling ball bar
Insert the tensioned coupling ball bar
in the opening and push firmly
upwards until it audibly engages.
The rotary handle snaps back into its
original position resting against the
coupling ball bar without a gap.9 Warning
Do not touch rotary handle during
insertion.
Lock the coupling ball bar by turning
the key to position e. Remove the key
and close the protective flap.
Eye for break-away stopping cable
Page 191 of 267
Driving and operating189Attach breakaway stopping cable to
eye.
Check that the coupling ball bar is
correctly installed
● Green marking on rotary knob must point towards green
marking on coupling ball bar.
● There must be no gap between the rotary handle and the
coupling ball bar.
● The coupling ball bar must be firmly engaged in the opening.
● The coupling ball bar must be locked and the key removed.9Warning
Towing a trailer is permitted only
when a coupling ball bar is fitted correctly. If the coupling ball bardoes not engage correctly, seekthe assistance of a workshop.
Dismounting the coupling ball bar
Open the protective flap and turn the
key to position c to unlock the
coupling ball bar.
Pull out rotary handle and turn
clockwise as far as it will go. Pull out coupling ball bar downwards.
Insert sealing plug in opening. Fold away socket.
Stow and secure the coupling ball bar
as mentioned above.
Page 192 of 267

190Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................191
Accessories and vehicle modifications .......................... 191
Vehicle storage ........................191
End-of-life vehicle recovery .....192
Vehicle checks ........................... 192
Performing work ......................192
Bonnet ..................................... 192
Engine oil ................................. 193
Engine coolant ......................... 194
Washer fluid ............................ 195
Brakes ..................................... 195
Brake fluid ............................... 196
Vehicle battery ......................... 196
Diesel fuel system bleeding .....197
Wiper blade replacement ........198
Bulb replacement .......................198
Halogen headlights ..................198
Adaptive forward lighting .........200
Fog lights ................................. 201
Front turn lights .......................202
Tail lights ................................. 203
Side turn lights ......................... 204
Number plate light ...................205Interior lights ............................ 206
Instrument panel illumination ...206
Electrical system ........................206
Fuses ....................................... 206
Engine compartment fuse box . 207
Instrument panel fuse box .......209
Load compartment fuse box ....210
Vehicle tools .............................. 212
Tools ........................................ 212
Wheels and tyres .......................213
Winter tyres ............................. 213
Tyre designations ....................213
Tyre pressure monitoring
system .................................... 213
Tyre pressure .......................... 217
Tread depth ............................. 218
Changing tyre and wheel size . 218
Wheel covers ........................... 219
Tyre chains .............................. 219
Tyre repair kit .......................... 219
Wheel changing .......................222
Spare wheel ............................ 225
Jump starting ............................. 228
Towing ....................................... 230
Towing the vehicle ...................230
Towing another vehicle ...........231Appearance care .......................232
Exterior care ............................ 232
Interior care ............................. 234