When driving off-road or on unpaved surfaces,
check the vehicle underside, wheels and tyres
regularly at regular intervals. In particular,
remove any trapped foreign bodies, e.g. stones
and branches.
Observe the following notes regarding foreign
bodies of this kind:
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They may damage the suspension, the fuel
tank or the brake system.
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They may disturb the balance and cause
vibrations.
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They may be flung out from the vehicle when
you continue driving.
If there is any damage, inform a qualified special‐
ist workshop.
When driving off-road on steep inclines, you must
make sure that the AdBlue
®
tank is sufficiently
filled. Therefore, ensure a level of at least ten
litres before off-road driving.
When driving off-road and on construction sites,
sand, mud and water, also mixed with oil, can get
into the brakes. This may lead to a reduction in
braking effect or total brake failure, also as a
result of increased wear. The braking characteris‐
tics will vary depending on the material that has
got into the system. Clean the brakes after driv‐
ing off-road. If you then notice a reduced braking
effect or hear scraping noises, have the brake
system checked immediately at a qualified spe‐
cialist workshop. Adjust your driving style to the
changed braking characteristics.
Driving off-road or on construction sites increa‐
ses the possibility of vehicle damage which may
in turn lead to the failure of certain major assem‐
blies and systems. Adapt your driving style to the
off-road driving conditions. Drive carefully. Have
any vehicle damage rectified at a qualified spe‐
cialist workshop as soon as possible.
When driving on rough cross-country terrain, do
not shift the transmission into the neutral posi‐
tion and do not disengage the clutch. You could
lose control when attempting to brake the vehicle
with the service brake. If your vehicle cannot
manage an uphill incline, drive back down in
reverse gear.
When loading your vehicle for off-road driving or
on a construction site, keep the vehicle's centre
of gravity as low as possible.
Checklist before off-road driving
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Check the fuel and AdBlue
®
levels
(
/
page 180) and top up if necessary
(
/
page 139).
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Engine: check the oil level and top up with oil
if necessary (
/
page 282). Before driving up
or down extreme inclines or slopes, fill the oil
to the maximum level.
%
If you drive up or down extreme inclines or
slopes, the
4
symbol may appear in the
multifunction display. The engine operating
safety is not put at risk if you have filled the
engine oil to the maximum level before the
journey.
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Vehicle tool kit: check that the jack is work‐
ing (
/
page 335).
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Make sure that a wheel wrench
(
/
page 335), a wooden underlay for the
jack, a robust tow rope, a folding spade and a
wheel chock are carried in the vehicle.
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Tyres and wheels: check the tyre tread
depth (
/
page 312) and the tyre pressure
(
/
page 329).
Rules for off-road driving
Always be aware of the ground clearance of the
vehicle and avoid obstacles such as deep tyre
ruts.
Obstacles can damage the following parts of the
vehicle, for example:
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suspension
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drivetrain
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fuel and supply tanks
Therefore, always drive slowly when off-road. If
you must drive over obstacles, have the co-driver
instruct you.
%
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you addi‐
tionally carry a shovel and a recovery rope
with a shackle in the vehicle.
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Make sure that loads and items of luggage
are securely stored or lashed down
(
/
page 77).
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Before driving off-road, stop the vehicle and
engage a low gear.
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Vehicles with DSR: activate DSR when you
are driving downhill (
/
page 134).
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All-wheel drive vehicles: activate the all-
wheel drive (
/
page 132) and, if necessary,
activate the LOW RANGE transmission ratio
(
/
page 133).
122 Driving and parking
