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Vehicle care303
Place wheel below the vehicle frame,
directly beneath the winch
mechanism.
Then tighten cable using the wheel
wrench and adapters by connecting
to the slot position illustrated above
and turning wrench anticlockwise
until the wheel is secured in the fully
raised position.
Note
Do not place a wheel with aluminium rim under the vehicle frame.9 Warning
Ensure the front of the wheel (side
with tyre valve) is facing upwards
when the spare wheel is
reinstalled below the vehicle
frame.
Temporary spare wheel
Caution
The use of a spare wheel that is smaller than the other wheels or in combination with winter tyres
could affect driveability. Have the defective tyre replaced as soon as
possible.
Only mount one temporary spare
wheel. Do not drive faster than
80 km/h. Take curves slowly. Do not use for a long period of time.
Separately supplied bolts must be
used for the temporary spare wheel.
These are allowed only for the
temporary spare wheel. Refer to an
label on the temporary spare wheel.
Tyre chains 3 295.
Summer and winter tyres
If you use winter tyres, the spare
wheel may still be fitted with a
summer tyre.
If you use the spare wheel when it is
fitted with a summer tyre the vehicle's driveability may be affected,
especially on slippery road surfaces.
Directional tyres Fit directional tyres such that they rollin the direction of travel. The rolling
direction is indicated by a symbol
(e.g. an arrow) on the sidewall.
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304Vehicle careThe following applies to tyres fitted
opposing the rolling direction:
● Driveability may be affected. Have the defective tyre renewed
or repaired as soon as possible
and fit it instead of the spare
wheel.
● Do not drive faster than 80 km/h.
● Drive particularly carefully on wet
and snow-covered road
surfaces.Jump starting
The jump start terminal is located in
the engine compartment.
A vehicle with a discharged vehicle
battery can be started using jump
leads and the vehicle battery of
another vehicle.
Do not start with a quick charger.9 Warning
Be extremely careful when starting
with jump leads. Any deviation
from the following instructions can
lead to injuries or damage caused
by battery explosion or damage to the electrical systems of both
vehicles.
9 Warning
Avoid contact of the battery with
eyes, skin, fabrics and painted
surfaces. The fluid contains
sulphuric acid which can cause
injuries and damage in the event
of direct contact.
Caution
The air suspension system must
be switched off prior to jump
starting.
Air suspension 3 231.
● Never expose the vehicle battery
to naked flames or sparks.
● A discharged vehicle battery can already freeze at a temperature
of 0 °C. Defrost the frozen vehicle
battery before connecting jump leads.
● Wear eye protection and protective clothing when
handling a vehicle battery.
● Use a booster battery with the same voltage (12 V). Its capacity(Ah) must not be much less than
that of the discharged vehicle
battery.
● Use jump leads with insulated terminals and a cross section of
at least 25 mm 2
.
● Do not disconnect the discharged
battery from the vehicle.
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Vehicle care305● Switch off all unnecessaryelectrical consumers.
● Switch off the air suspension system 3 231.
● Do not lean over the vehicle battery during jump starting.
● Do not allow the terminals of one
lead to touch those of the other
lead.
● The vehicles must not come into contact with each other during
the jump starting process.
● Apply the parking brake and engage neutral (manual
transmission) or N (manual
transmission automated).Jump start terminal
In the event of a discharged vehicle
battery, the jump start terminal
enables the vehicle to be started
without the need to access the battery inside the vehicle.
The jump start terminal is located in
the engine compartment and
identified by a " <" sign on the red
insulating cover. Lift the red insulating
cover to access the terminal
connector.
Ensure the red insulating cover is
latched back into position when not in
use.
Jump starting procedure
Depending on model, the jump start
terminal may be located at the left-
hand or right-hand side of the engine
compartment.
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306Vehicle care
Lead connection order:1. Connect the red lead to the positive terminal (1) of the booster
battery.
2. Connect the other end of the red lead to the jump start terminal (2)
of the vehicle with the discharged
vehicle battery.
3. Connect the black lead to the negative terminal (3) of the
booster battery.
4. Connect the other end of the black
lead to a vehicle grounding point
(4), such as the engine block or an
engine mounting bolt. Connect as
far away from the discharged
vehicle battery as possible,
however at least 60 cm.
Route the leads so that they cannot
catch on rotating parts in the engine
compartment.
To start the engine: 1. Start the engine of the vehicle providing the jump start.
2. After 5 minutes, start the other engine. Start attempts should be
made for no longer than
15 seconds at an interval of
1 minute.
3. Allow both engines to idle for approx. 3 minutes with the leads
connected.
4. Switch on electrical consumers (e.g. headlights, heated rear
window) of the vehicle receiving
the jump start.
5. Reverse above sequence exactly when removing leads.Towing
Towing the vehicle The towing eye and wheel wrench are
stowed with the vehicle tools 3 290.
Disengage the cover using a suitable
tool and remove.
Screw the towing eye clockwise into
the front towing point and tighten fully using the wheel wrench.
Attach a tow rope – or better still a tow
rod – to the towing eye, never to the
bumper or front suspension units.
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Vehicle care307Caution
Do not tow the vehicle from the
rear. The front towing eye must
only be used for towing and not
recovering a vehicle.
Switch on ignition to permit operation
of brake lights, horn and windscreen
wipers, and move the steering wheel
slightly to release the steering wheel
lock.
Switch off the air suspension system 3 231.
Caution
Deactivate the driver assistance
systems like active emergency
braking 3 253, otherwise the
vehicle may automatically brake during towing.
Move the selector lever to neutral.
Release the parking brake.
Caution
Vehicles with manual
transmission automated: If neutral cannot be selected, the vehiclemust only be towed with the drive
wheels raised off the ground.
The vehicle should always be
towed with the ignition switched
off.
Manual transmission automated
3 241.
Caution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can
damage the vehicle.
When the engine is not running,
considerably more force is needed to
brake and steer.
To prevent the entry of exhaust fumes
from the towing vehicle, switch on the air recirculation system 3 209 and
close the windows.
Seek the assistance of a workshop.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye
and refit the cover.
Towing another vehicle
Attach a tow rope – or better still a tow
rod – to the rear towing eye, never to
the rear axle and suspension units.
Caution
The rear towing eye must only be
used for towing and not recovering a vehicle.
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308Vehicle careCaution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can
damage the vehicle.
Appearance care
Exterior care Locks
The locks are lubricated at the factory using 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.
WashingThe 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. Restrictions for
filmed or matt painted body parts or
decor tapes, see "Polishing and
waxing".
Bird 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 wipers
must be switched off and the exterior
mirrors must be folded in. 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.
Have the door hinges of all doors
greased by a workshop.
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Vehicle care309Do not clean the engine compartment
with 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.
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.
Unpainted plastic body parts must not be treated with wax or polishing
agents.
Matt filmed body parts or decor tapes must not be polished, to avoid
gleaming. Do not use hot wax
programmes in automatic car washes if the vehicle is equipped with these
parts.
Matt painted decor parts, e.g. mirror
housing cover, must not be polished. Otherwise these parts would become
agleam or the colour would be
dissolved.
Windows and windscreen wiper
blades
Switch off wipers before handling in
their areas.
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.
Remove dirt residues from smearing wiper 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.
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 with
a touch-up pen before rust forms.
Have more extensive damage or rust areas repaired by a workshop.
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310Vehicle careUnderbody
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.
Towing equipment
Do not clean the coupling ball bar with a steam-jet or high-pressure jet
cleaner.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 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.
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.
Plastic and rubber parts
Plastic 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.