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Vehicle care239Route the leads so that they cannot
catch on rotating parts in the engine
compartment.
To start the vehicle: 1. Start the engine of the vehicle providing the jump.
2. After five minutes, press POWER m to switch on the
vehicle.
After the instrument cluster
initialises, the vehicle will use
power from the high voltage
battery to charge the 12 V vehicle
battery.
3. Switch on electrical consumers (e.g. headlights, heated rear
window) of the vehicle receiving
the jump start.
4. Reverse above sequence exactly when removing leads.Towing
Towing the vehicleCaution
Incorrect towing of a disabled
vehicle may cause damage to the
vehicle. The disabled vehicle
should only be towed on a flatbed
car carrier.
Ensure the vehicle is only towed
by well trained technicians.
Wrap a cloth around the tip of a slot
screwdriver to prevent paint damage. Insert the screwdriver in the slot at the
short edge of the cap. Release the
cap by carefully moving the
screwdriver sidewards.
The towing eye is stowed with the vehicle tools 3 230.
Screw in the towing eye anticlockwise
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.
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240Vehicle careSwitch on the vehicle to release
steering wheel lock and to permit
operation of brake lights, horn and
windscreen wiper.
Shift the selector lever of the electric
drive unit into N.
Release the electric parking brake.Caution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can
damage the vehicle.
When the vehicle 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.
Seek the assistance of a workshop.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye.
Insert cap at the bottom and close.
Towing another vehicle
The vehicle is neither designed nor
intended to tow a trailer or another
vehicle.Appearance care
Exterior care
Locks The locks are lubricated at the factoryusing 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.
Washing The 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.
Do not apply waxes or polishes to uncoated plastic, vinyl, rubber,
decals, simulated wood, or flat paint
as damage can occur.
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Vehicle care241Bird droppings, dead insects, resin,
pollen and the like should be cleaned
off immediately, as they contain
aggressive constituents which can cause paint damage.
If using a vehicle wash, comply with
the vehicle wash manufacturer's instructions. The windscreen wiperand 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.
Do not clean the engine compartmentwith a steam-jet or high-pressure jet
cleaner.
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.
Have the door hinges of all doors
greased by a workshop.
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.
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242Vehicle careRemove dirt residues from smearingwiper blades by using a soft cloth and window cleaner. Also make sure to
remove any residues such as wax,
insect residues and similar from the
window.
Ice residues, pollution and continuous wiping on dry windows will damage or
even destroy the wiper blades.
Wheels and tyres Do not use high-pressure jet
cleaners.
Clean rims with a pH-neutral wheel
cleaner.
Rims are painted and can be treated
with the same agents as the body.
Paintwork damage Rectify minor paintwork damage witha touch-up pen before rust forms.
Have more extensive damage or rust areas repaired by a workshop.Underbody
Some areas of the vehicle underbody
have a PVC undercoating while other critical areas have a durable
protective wax coating.
After the underbody is washed, check
the underbody and have it waxed if
necessary.
Bitumen / rubber materials could damage the PVC coating. Have
underbody work carried out by a
workshop.
Before and after winter, wash the
underbody and have the protective
wax coating checked.
Interior care
Interior and upholstery
Only clean the vehicle interior,
including the instrument panel fascia
and panelling, with a dry cloth or
interior cleaner.
Clean the leather upholstery with
clear water and a soft cloth. In case of heavy soiling, use leather care.The instrument cluster and the
displays should only be cleaned using
a soft damp cloth. If necessary use a
weak soap solution.
Do not spray cleaners directly on any switches or controls.
Clean fabric upholstery with a
vacuum cleaner and brush. Remove
stains with an upholstery cleaner.
Clothing fabrics may not be
colourfast. This could cause visible
discolourations, especially on light-
coloured upholstery. Removable
stains and discolourations should be
cleaned as soon as possible.
Clean seat belts with lukewarm water or interior cleaner.Caution
Close Velcro fasteners as open
Velcro fasteners on clothing could damage seat upholstery.
The same applies to clothing with
sharp-edged objects, like zips or
belts or studded jeans.
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Vehicle care243Plastic and rubber partsPlastic and rubber parts can be
cleaned with the same cleaner as
used to clean the body. Use interior cleaner if necessary. Do not use any
other agent. Avoid solvents and petrol in particular. Do not use high-
pressure jet cleaners.
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244Service and maintenanceService and
maintenanceGeneral information ...................244
Service information ..................244
Recommended fluids, lubricants
and parts .................................... 245
Recommended fluids and lubricants ................................ 245General information
Service information In order to ensure economical and
safe vehicle operation and to
maintain the value of your vehicle, it
is of vital importance that all
maintenance work is carried out at the proper intervals as specified.
The detailed, up-to-date service
schedule for your vehicle is available
at the workshop.
European service intervals Maintenance of your vehicle is
required every 30,000 km or after one year, whichever occurs first, unless
otherwise indicated in the service
display.
A shorter service interval can be valid
for severe driving behaviour, e.g. for
taxis and police vehicles.
The European service intervals are
valid for the following countries:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany,Greece, Greenland, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta,
Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, United Kingdom.
International service intervals
Maintenance of your vehicle is
required every 15,000 km or after one
year, whichever occurs first, unless
otherwise indicated in the service
display.
Severe operating conditions exist if
one or more of the following
circumstances occur frequently: Cold
starting, stop and go operation,
mountain driving, driving on poor and sandy road surfaces, increased air
pollution, presence of airborne sand
and high dust content, driving at high
altitude and large variations of
temperature. Under these severe
operating conditions, certain service
work may be required more frequently than the regular service interval.
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Service and maintenance245The international service intervals are
valid for the countries which are not
listed in the European service
intervals.
Confirmations Confirmation of service is recorded in
the Service and warranty booklet.
The date and mileage is completed
with the stamp and signature of the
servicing workshop.
Make sure that the Service and
warranty booklet is completed
correctly as continuous proof of
service is essential if any warranty or goodwill claims are to be met, and is
also a benefit when selling the
vehicle.Recommended fluids,
lubricants and parts
Recommended fluids andlubricants
Only use products that have been
tested and approved. Damage
resulting from the use of non-
approved materials will not be
covered by the warranty.9 Warning
Operating materials are
hazardous and could be
poisonous. Handle with care. Pay
attention to information given on
the containers.
Coolant and antifreeze
Use only organic acid type-long life
coolant (LLC) antifreeze approved for
the vehicle. Consult a workshop. The system is factory filled with coolant
designed for excellent corrosion
protection and frost protection down
to approx. -28 °C. In northern
countries with very low temperatures
the factory filled coolant provides frost
protection down to approx. -37 °C.
This concentration should be
maintained all year round. The use of additional coolant additives that
intend to give additional corrosion
protection or seal against minor leaks
can cause function problems. Liability
for consequences resulting from the
use of additional coolant additives will be rejected.
Washer fluid
Use only washer fluid approved for
the vehicle to prevent damage of
wiper blades, paintwork, plastic and
rubber parts. Consult a workshop.
Page 248 of 267
246Service and maintenanceBrake fluid
Over time, brake fluid absorbs
moisture which will reduce braking
effectiveness. The brake fluid should
therefore be replaced at the specified interval.