Driving tips
Running-in
It is of decisive importance for the operating life, reliability and economy of the vehicle that the engine is not subjected to its full rated load during the running-in period.
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Run the vehicle in carefully. Drive at varying road and engine speeds.
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Avoid heavy loads (driving at full throttle) and high engine speeds. Do not exceed 3/ 4 of the maximum speed available for each gear.
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Change gear in good time.
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Do not change down a gear manually in order to brake.
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Avoid depressing the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point on vehicles with an automatic transmission (kickdown), and only engage gear 4, 3, 2 or 1 while driving slowly.
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Observe these instructions even when the engine, the transmission or the rear axle differential of your vehicle were replaced.
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Driving abroad
An extensive network of Mercedes-Benz Service Centres is also at your disposal when you are travelling abroad. The workshop directories are available from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
In some countries, only fuels with a lower octane rating or a higher sulphur content are available.
You will find information about fuel in the “Service products” section more.
When driving in countries in which traffic drives on the side of the road opposite to that in the country where the vehicle is registered, the headlamps must be switched to symmetrical dipped beam.
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Masking the headlamps incorrectly can impair your visibility when driving with the headlamps switched on. You could also impede other road users. Oncoming traffic may be dazzled.
Always have the headlamps masked/switched over at a qualified specialist workshop which has the necessary specialist knowledge and tools to carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this purpose. All work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
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Driving off-road
When driving the vehicle, particularly on rough terrain, ensure that the driven wheels always have sufficient traction.
Do not allow the driven wheels to spin (risk of damage to the differential).
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Always observe the ground clearance of the vehicle and avoid obstructions where possible. Obstructions such as deep ruts could damage, for example:
For this reason, you should always drive slowly when driving off-road. If you have to drive over obstructions, the co-driver should direct you.
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If you drive too fast off-road, you could fail to identify obstacles in good time or you could misjudge the nature of the terrain. Always drive slowly off-road to avoid damage to the vehicle.
The vehicle could skid sideways and tip over. Never drive along a slope at an angle but always in a straight line. Do not turn your vehicle. If it cannot manage a hill, drive backwards in reverse gear.
You could lose control of your vehicle if you shift the transmission to neutral or disengage the clutch on an incline and then try to brake the vehicle using only the service brake. Never let the vehicle roll.
Overloading the vehicle will increase the risk of the vehicle tipping over. Do not exceed the maximum permissible axle loads under any circumstances. When loading the vehicle, keep its centre of gravity as low as possible.
If the vehicle is frequently or mainly operated on muddy or marshy terrain, substances that impair braking efficiency, such as sand or oil mixed with water, could get into the brake system. This may lead to excessive wear and a reduction in braking efficiency. There is a risk that you would not have full braking power at your disposal in the event of an emergency.
Carry out a short brake test after each time you drive off-road. If you detect a reduced braking effect or hear grinding noises, have the brake system checked at a qualified specialist workshop, for example, at a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
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When driving off-road, your body is subject to acceleration forces from all directions due to the uneven ground. You could be thrown out of your seat and injured. Always fasten your seat belt when driving off-road.
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Rules for driving off-road
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If you drive over obstacles or in ruts, the steering wheel may jerk out of your grip and you could injure the thumbs on both hands. Always hold the steering wheel rim firmly with both hands. When driving over obstacles, you must expect steering forces to increase briefly and suddenly.
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Before driving off-road, stop and select a low gear.
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When driving off-road, always drive with the engine running and a gear engaged.
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Drive slowly and evenly. Many situations require you to drive at walking pace.
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Always make sure that the wheels are in contact with the ground.
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Drive with extreme care over unknown terrain where you can only see for a short distance. As a precaution, step out of the vehicle beforehand to get an overview of the terrain.
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Before fording, check the water depth.
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Look out for obstacles, e.g. rocks, holes, tree stumps and ruts.
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Avoid banks where the ground could crumble away.
Before driving off-road
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Switch off acceleration skid control (ASR) more.
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Stow away or lash down items of luggage or payload safely more.
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The following additional equipment should always be carried on board the vehicle:
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After driving off-road
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Damage sustained by the vehicle during off-road driving can result in consequential damage, failure of assemblies or accidents. Always clean and check the vehicle after driving off-road. Rectify any damage before using the vehicle again.
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Switch on acceleration skid control (ASR) more.
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Clean the vehicle more.
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Inspect the vehicle for damage.
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Transport by rail
Transporting your vehicle by rail may be subject to certain restrictions or require special measures to be taken in some countries due to varying tunnel heights and loading standards.
You may obtain information about this from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Fuel consumption
Fuel consumption depends on:
Observe the advice in the "Protection of the environment" section to keep fuel consumption low more.
The following vehicle version factors also affect fuel consumption:
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Tyre sizes, tyre tread, tyre pressure, tyre condition
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Drive unit transmission ratios
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Additional equipment (e. g. air-conditioning system, auxiliary heating system)
For these reasons, the actual consumption figures for your vehicle may differ from those determined in accordance with version 2004/3/EC of EC Directive 80/ 1268/ EEC more.
Information on fuel consumption can be called up on the on-board computer with the steering wheel buttons in the Trip computer menu or more.
Engine oil consumption
Depending on how it is driven, the vehicle consumes a maximum of 1.0 litre of oil per 1,000 km.
Engine oil consumption may be higher if:
Regular maintenance is one of the preconditions for moderate rates of consumption.
The engine oil consumption can only be judged after a lengthy distance has been covered.
Check the engine oil level on a regular basis, e.g. weekly or each time you refuel.
Reverse warning device
On vehicles with a reverse warning feature, a warning signal sounds when reverse gear is engaged to alert other road users. The volume of this warning signal can be reduced for night-time driving.
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Other road users could fail to hear or could ignore the reverse warning feature warning signal. For this reason, the reverse warning feature cannot guarantee that there are no people or objects behind your vehicle.
The reverse warning feature is a system designed to assist you in ensuring the safety of other road users. It does not however relieve you of your responsibility to make sure that there are no persons or objects behind your vehicle while you are manoeuvring.
For this reason, always observe the road and traffic conditions with due caution. To avoid damage and injury, make sure that there are no persons or objects behind the vehicle while you are manoeuvring. Have a second person assist you when manoeuvring if necessary.
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To set the warning signal to quiet: engage the reverse gear twice in brief succession.
The volume of the warning signal is reduced.
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The warning signal sounds at normal volume by default and will need to be reduced in volume each time reverse gear is engaged.
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