Off-road driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn on a steep incline, the vehicle could slip
sideways, tip and overturn. There is a risk of
an accident.
When driving on an incline, drive into the line
of fall (upwards or downwards in a straight
line) and do not turn.
G
WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system. There is a risk
of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check the vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove parts of plants or other
flammable materials which have become
trapped. In the case of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
G
WARNING
If the vehicle level is high, the vehicle centre of
gravity is raised. This could cause the vehicle
to tip over more easily on uphill or downhill
gradients. There is a risk of an accident.
Select the lowest possible vehicle level.
!
There is a risk of damage to the vehicle if:
R
the vehicle becomes stuck, e.g. on a high
kerb or an unpaved road
R
you drive too fast over an obstacle, e.g. a
kerb or a pothole in the road
R
a heavy object strikes the underbody or
parts of the chassis
In situations like this, the body, the under-
body, chassis parts, wheels or tyres could be
damaged without the damage being visible.
Components damaged in this way can unex-
pectedly fail or, in the case of an accident, no
longer withstand the strain they are designed
for.
If the underbody panelling is damaged, com-
bustible materials such as leaves, grass or
twigs can gather between the underbody and
the underbody panelling. If these materials
come in contact with hot parts of the exhaust
system, they can catch fire.
In such situations, have the vehicle checked
and repaired immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. If, upon continuing your
journey, you notice that driving safety is
impaired, pull over and stop the vehicle imme-
diately, paying attention to road and traffic
conditions. In such cases, consult a qualified
specialist workshop.
When driving off-road, substances such as sand,
mud and water or water mixed with oil may get
into the brakes. This may lead to a reduction in
braking performance or total brake failure as a
result of increased wear. The braking charac-
teristics will vary depending on the substances
that get into the brakes. Clean the brakes after
driving off-road. If you notice grinding noises or
a reduction in braking performance, have the
brake system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately. Adapt your driving style
to the altered braking characteristics.
Driving off-road increases the possibility of dam-
age to the vehicle, which may cause assemblies
or systems to fail. Adapt your driving style to the
conditions of the terrain. Drive carefully. Have
vehicle damage rectified immediately at a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
Do not shift into transmission position N when
driving off-road. You could lose control of the
vehicle if you attempt to brake the vehicle using
the service brake. If the gradient is too steep for
your vehicle, back up in reverse gear.
General notes
H
Environmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
Read this section before driving your vehicle off-
road. Practise by driving over more gentle off-
road terrain first.
Driving tips
199
Driving
and
parking
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