Explanation of some technical terms
Fig. 131 Illustration: angle of gradient.
The terrain might look harmless, but there could be hidden dangers. Potholes, hollows,
ditches, precipices, obstacles, shallows, soft and boggy surfaces are often not
recognisable as such and can be covered either fully or partly by water or grass or
branches lying on the ground. Driving off-road over such terrain could cause accidents,
serious injury and also a vehicle breakdown.
•Check any unknown sections of the route on foot carefully before driving.
•Never choose an unsafe route or take a risk which could endanger you or your
passengers. If you are in any doubt about the safety of the route, turn back and choose
another route.
•Always adjust your speed and driving to match vehicle load levels and off-road,
visibility and weather conditions.
WARNING
•Always avoid traversing a slope ⇒ Traversing a slope.
•Vehicle occupants should never leave the vehicle via the doors facing down the hill
when parked sideways on a steep hill. The combined centre of gravity of the vehicle
and its payload (vehicle occupants and payloadyf F D Q V K L I W D Q G F D X V H W K H Y H K L F O H W R U R O O
over and roll down the incline. Always leave the vehicle slowly via the doors which
open up the incline ⇒ Traversing a slope.
WARNING
The cruise control system has been designed for use on surfaced roads only. The cruise
control system is not suitable for use off-road and may even be hazardous. If you use the
cruise control system while driving off-road, you may lose control over the vehicle and
sustain severe injuries.
•Never use the cruise control system when driving off-road.
WARNING
The area monitoring system (Front Assistyf Z D V G H Y H O R S H G I R U X V H R Q S D Y H G U R D G V R Q O \
The area monitoring system is not suitable for use off-road and may even be hazardous. If
you use the area monitoring system while driving off-road, you may lose control over the
vehicle and sustain severe injuries.
•Never use the area monitoring system when driving off-road.
WARNING
Driving the vehicle when the fuel level is too low could lead to your vehicle breaking down
off-road, accidents and serious injuries.
•When the fuel level is too low, the fuel supply to the engine could be irregular,
especially when driving up or down hills and inclines.
•The steering, all driver assist systems and brake support systems will not function if
the engine sputters or stops completely due to a lack of fuel or irregular fuel supply.
•Always fill the tank when it is still 1/4 full. This reduces the risk of running out of fuel
and breaking down.
WARNING
Any rain entering the vehicle when the windows or glass roof are open can soak the
interior equipment and cause damage to the vehicle. Always keep the windows and glass
roof closed when driving off-road.
NOTICE
Driving in sand and mud
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Always drive at a steady speed through sand or mud and, if you have a manual gearbox, do not
change gear.
•Check whether ESC is active. The indicator lamp or in the instrument cluster display
should not light up ⇒ Brake support systems.
•Keep the vehicle moving constantly.
•Use the Off-road driving profile ⇒ Selecting a driving profile (4MOTION Action Controlyf.
•Select a suitable gear and remain in this gear until you have reached more solid ground
⇒ Changing gear.
If the tyres have lost their grip, turn the steering wheel back and forth quickly. This can briefly give
the tyres on the front wheels better grip for this ground surface condition.
Driving through sand
Do not under any circumstances reduce the tyre pressure to drive through sand ⇒. If however
the tyre pressure has been reduced for driving through sand, the correct tyre pressure must always
be reset before driving on. Driving with reduced tyre pressure can lead to a loss of control over the
vehicle and increase the risk of serious and fatal injuries.
Driving through mud
Do not change speed or direction. The tyres can lose their traction when driving through mud. If the
vehicle slides, steer in the direction needed to get the vehicle under control.
Driving in steep terrain
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Driving up and down hills
Get out of the vehicle and assess the situation before you attempt to drive up or down a hill:
•Walk along the section and check the firmness of the ground. Look out for obstacles and other
hidden dangers ⇒.
•Check the section beyond the hill.
•You should not follow the route if it is too steep, uneven or if the ground surface is too loose.
Select another route.
•Drive slowly and at constant speed straight up or down a slope.
Driving through snowy terrain is very dangerous.
•Both shallow and deep potholes, hollows, ditches, precipices, frozen surfaces and
other obstacles can be fully or partially covered by snow.
•Dangers concealed by snow can cause an accident, serious injuries, or cause the
vehicle to break down in extreme weather conditions.
•Always adjust your speed and driving to match vehicle load levels and off-road,
visibility and weather conditions.
WARNING
Driving through mud, sand and slush can be dangerous. The vehicle can slide
uncontrollably. This increases the risk of injury. Always drive carefully through sand, mud
and slush.
•Never choose an unsafe route or take a risk which could endanger you or your
passengers. If you are in any doubt about the safety of the route, turn round and
choose another way.
WARNING
Incorrect tyre pressure can cause severe or even fatal accidents.
•Incorrect tyre pressures will increase the levels of wear on the tyres and will negatively
affect the vehicle's driving response.
•An incorrect tyre pressure can cause overheating, sudden tyre damage including tyre
bursts and ripping of the tread surface and thus to a loss of control over the vehicle.
WARNING
•Accelerate only to the speed you need to climb the slope. Too much acceleration can cause the
wheels to spin and lead to a loss of control of the vehicle. Too little acceleration increases the
probability of stalling the engine.
•Never attempt to stop or turn on a slope.
•Avoid allowing the engine to stall.
•Do not change gear or engage the clutch when climbing a slope.
•Use the Off-road display ⇒ Off-road display.
If you cannot continue to drive up a hill
•Never turn the vehicle around on an incline.
•If the engine has stalled, depress the footbrake and start the engine again.
•Select the reverse gear and reverse back in a straight line slowly.
•Use the foot brake to keep a constant speed until you have reached a safe place.
Driving downhill
Never exceed the inclination angle of the vehicle! If, in an emergency, you have to traverse the
slope when driving down it and the vehicle threatens to tip over, steer downhill along the maximum
gradient.
There is an increased risk of rolling over when driving downhill. Concentrate on steering the vehicle
in particular when driving downhill.
Use the off-road display on steep downhill stretches ⇒ Off-road display.
•Drive down steep inclines in first gear.
•Use the foot brake sparingly in order not to lose control of the vehicle.
•If it is possible and not dangerous, drive straight down the slope on the maximum gradient (in
the fall lineyf .
•Do not press the clutch and do not select neutral.
Traversing a slope
Fig. 133 Steering downhill along the maximum gradient.
Never try driving up or down an incline if it is too steep for the vehicle. The vehicle could
slide away, tip over or roll.
•The gradient of the slope up or downhill may be no greater than the maximum
permissible gradient for the vehicle.
•Always drive up and downhill along the maximum gradient only.
•Never turn the vehicle when driving up or downhill. The vehicle could tip over or slide
away sideways.
•If the engine stops or if you cannot drive on for any reason: stop the vehicle and
depress the brake pedal. Start the engine again. Select the reverse gear, release the
brake pedal and using the engine braking effect to carefully reverse in a straight line
along the fall line. Keep the vehicle speed low and constant.
•If you are unable to start the engine, keep your foot steady on the brake pedal and
allow the vehicle to roll back down the track you made when driving up the hill. Keep
the vehicle speed low and constant.
•Never let the vehicle coast out of gear backwards down a slope. You could lose control
over the vehicle.
WARNING
Clean the turn signals, headlight system, the number plate and all windows.
If necessary, remove the towing eye and the snow chains.
Check the tyres, struts and axles for damage and remove dirt, stones and other foreign
bodies from the tyre tread.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and remove all items that are jammed in the brake system,
on the wheels, in the running gear, in the exhaust system and in the engine, such as
branches, leaves or pieces of wood . If you see any damage or leaks, take your vehicle to a
qualified workshop.
Clean heavy soiling from the radiator grille and the vehicle underbody Vehicle care.
Check the engine compartment to see if any dirt is affecting the engine operation In the
engine compartment.
Switch off OFF-ROAD mode Selecting a driving profile (4MOTION Action Controlyf .
Switch on TCS again Brake support systems.
If your vehicle gets stuck
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Rocking out a vehicle requires a great deal of training and feeling for the vehicle.
If you make a mistake when rocking the vehicle, it can sink deeper and you will need assistance to
get out of the mud.
When you cannot proceed ...
•Carefully dig out all the wheels and check that no other parts of the vehicle are stuck in the
sand.
•Engage reverse gear.
•Reverse over your own tracks, accelerating gently.
If this does not help, place brushwood, floor mats or sacking directly in front of the wheels to
increase grip ⇒.
Rocking the vehicle
Never allow the wheels to spin for long periods as this will cause the vehicle to sink deeper ⇒.
•Switch off TCS ⇒ Brake support systems.
•Position the steering wheel so that it is facing straight ahead.
•Reverse until the point where the wheels just start to spin.
•Quickly select first gear and drive forwards until the wheels start to spin again.
•Repeat driving back and forth until you have enough momentum to free yourself.
•Switch the TCS on after the rocking procedure is completed ⇒ Brake support systems.
•Use the Off-road driving profile.
After off-road driving
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Checklist
Never drive through a ditch if the entry/exit angle is too steep for the vehicle and the ditch
is too deep. The vehicle could slide away, tip over or roll.
WARNING
If you drive into the ditch at a right angle, the front wheels will fall in. The underbody of
your vehicle could get stuck and damaged which means that the vehicle could break
down. It is then almost impossible to get out of the ditch despite having all-wheel drive.
NOTICE
Nobody may stand either in front or behind the vehicle, particularly if you are attempting
to free a stuck vehicle.
•Spinning wheels can propel stones, brushwood, pieces of wood or other objects that
are in front or behind the wheels at enormous speed and cause potentially fatal injury.
•People standing in front of or behind the vehicle could be run over if the stuck vehicle
starts to move suddenly.
WARNING
Driver assist systems
Cruise control system (CCSyf
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Operating the cruise control system with the lever
⇒ Operating the cruise control system via the multifunction steering wheel
⇒ Troubleshooting
The cruise control system helps to
maintain a speed set by the driver.
Speed range
The cruise control system is available when driving forwards at speeds from around 20 km/h
(15 mphyf .
Changing gear
Cruise control is interrupted as soon as you press the clutch pedal and is resumed automatically
after the gear change.
Driving downhill
Driving downhill may cause the set speed to be exceeded.
Apply the foot brake to slow the vehicle down, and change down a gear as required.
How do I operate the cruise control system?
Depending on the vehicle equipment, you can operate the cruise control system either by means of
the lever on the steering column ⇒ Operating the cruise control system with the lever or via the
multifunction steering wheel ⇒ Operating the cruise control system via the multifunction steering
wheel. The displays on the instrument cluster are identical in both cases.
Operating the cruise control system with the lever
Objects caught underneath the vehicle underbody are a danger. The vehicle underbody
must always be examined for trapped objects after every journey off-road.
•Never drive if objects are trapped in the underbody, brake system, wheels, running
gear, exhaust system and engine.
•Inflammable materials, such as dry leaves or twigs, could ignite on hot vehicle
components. A fire can cause serious injuries.
•Trapped objects could damage the fuel lines, brake system, seals and other
components. This could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and cause accidents.
WARNING
Use of the cruise control system can lead to accidents and serious injuries if traffic does
not allow you to drive at a safe distance at a constant speed.
•Never use the cruise control system in heavy traffic, on steep or winding roads, or on
slippery road surfaces e.g. on snow, ice, wet roads, loose chippings, or on flooded
roads.
•Never use the cruise control system when driving off-road or on unpaved road
surfaces.
•Adapt your speed and distance from the vehicles ahead to suit visibility, weather, road
and traffic conditions.
•Always switch cruise control off after use to avoid unintentional speed control.
•It is dangerous to use a set speed that is too high for the prevailing road, traffic or
weather conditions.
•The cruise control system cannot maintain a constant speed when travelling downhill.
The vehicle speed can increase under its own weight. Use the foot brake to slow the
vehicle.
WARNING