R
Do not stray from marked routes or paths.
R
Observe the notes on off-road fording
(
Y
page 175).
i
Information about retrofitting special all-ter-
rain tyres is available from any qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
i
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 sur-
faces.
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
AdBlue
®
tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check the
level and top up if necessary (
Y
page 166).
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.
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
If the Off-road or Off-road Plus drive pro-
gram is selected: select the Individual,
Sport, Comfort or Slippery drive program
(
Y
page 155).
X
Deactivate the LOW RANGE offroad gear
(
Y
page 230).
X
Deactivate DSR (
Y
page 227).
X
Lower the vehicle level again to a level suita-
ble to the road conditions, e.g. to the normal
level.
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.
X
Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the vehi-
cle underside with a water jet; check for any
foreign objects and damage.
X
Check whether twigs or other parts of plants
have become trapped. These increase the risk
of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake
hoses or the rubber bellows of the axle joints
and propeller shafts.
X
After the trip, examine without fail the entire
undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes, body-
work structure, steering, chassis and exhaust
system for damage.
X
After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X
If you detect strong vibrations after driving
off-road, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.
Driving on sand
Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
without Off-Road Engineering package)
(
Y
page 228).
R
Select the Offroad drive program (vehicles
with Off-Road Engineering package)
(
Y
page 229).
R
Select a higher vehicle level.
R
Avoid high engine speeds.
R
Use the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle to shift to a lower gear appropriate to
the terrain.
178
Driving tips
Dr
ivi
ng
an
d
parki
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