Observe the following notes:
R
stop the vehicle before you drive off-road and,
if necessary, shift the transfer case to the
LOW RANGE off-road driving position
(
Y
page 124)
R
engage the differential locks if necessary
(
Y
page 126)
i
ABS, 4ETS, ESP
®
and BAS are deactivated
while the differential locks are engaged. This
allows the front wheels to lock briefly, so that
they can dig into a loose surface. However,
please note that locked wheels skid and can
no longer steer.
R
Make sure that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(
Y
page 203).
R
To avoid damaging the vehicle, make sure
there is always sufficient ground clearance.
R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope.
R
Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at walk-
ing pace.
R
Ensure that the wheels are in contact with the
ground at all times.
R
Drive with extreme care on unknown off-road
routes where visibility is poor. For safety rea-
sons, get out of the vehicle first and survey
the off-road route.
R
Check the depth of water before fording rivers
and streams.
R
Watch out for obstacles.
R
Always keep the doors, the rear door, the side
windows and the sliding sunroof closed while
the vehicle is in motion.
R
Do not deviate from marked routes.
R
Match your speed to the terrain. The rougher,
steeper or more ruts on the terrain, the slower
your speed should be.
R
Do not jump with the vehicle. This will inter-
rupt the vehicle's propulsion.
R
Avoid high engine speeds. Drive at appropri-
ate engine speeds.
R
Always check the vehicle for damage after off-
road driving.
Do not use the HOLD function when driving off-
road, on steep uphill or downhill gradients or on
slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD function
cannot hold the vehicle on such surfaces.
You can obtain further information about retro-
fitting special all-terrain tyres from a qualified
specialist workshop.
Checklist before off-road driving
X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil and top
it up if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the oil level
must be sufficiently high to ensure a correct
oil supply in the vehicle.
X
Have the AdBlue
®
level checked at a qualified
specialist workshop (
Y
page 111).
X
Tyre-change tool kit: check that the jack is
working and make sure that the wheel
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade are in the vehicle.
X
Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X
Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tyres.
X
Replace any missing valve caps.
X
Replace dented or damaged wheels. Also
check the spare wheel.
X
Wheels: dented or bent wheels can lead to a
loss of tyre pressure and damage to the tyre
bead. Before driving off-road, check the
wheels and replace them if necessary.
Checklist after off-road driving
!
If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on normal
roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle.
This allows you to detect damage promptly and
reduce the risk of an accident to yourself and
other road users.
X
Shift the transfer case to the on-road position
HIGH RANGE (
Y
page 124).
X
Disengage the differential locks
(
Y
page 127).
X
Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X
Clean the front and rear licence plates.
X
Clean the wheels and tyres with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects.
120
Driving tips
Driving
and
parking
