interior lights MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 2018 Owners Manual

Index ....................................................... 4
Digital Operator's Manual .................. 26
Introduction .......................................... .2 6
Operation ............................................... 26
Introduction ......................................... 27
Protecting the environment .................. .2 7
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts .............. .2 7
Operator's Manual ................................. 28
Service and vehicle operation ............... .2 8
Operating safety .................................... 30
QR codes for the rescue card ............... .3 2
Data stored in the vehicle ...................... 32
Information on copyright ....................... 35
At a glance ........................................... 36
Cockpit .................................................. 36
Instrument cluster ................................. 37
Multifunction steering wheel ................. 38
Center console ...................................... 39
Overhead control panel ........................ .4 2
Door control panel ................................. 43
Safety ................................................... 44
Panic alarm ............................................ 44
Occupant safety .................................... 44
Children in the vehicle ........................... 59
Pets in the vehicle ................................. 65
Driving safety systems ........................... 66
Protection against theft ........................ .7 5
Opening and closing ........................... 77
SmartKey ............................................... 77
Doors ..................................................... 83
Cargo compartment .............................. .8 4
Side windows ......................................... 88
Sliding sunroof ....................................... 92
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors .... 97
Correct driver's seat position ................ 97
Seats ..................................................... 97
Steering wheel ..................................... 103
Mirrors ................................................. 105 Memory function ................................. 108
Lights and windshield wipers .......... 110
Exterior lighting ................................... 110
Interior lighting .................................... 114
Replacing bulbs (vehicles with LED
headlamps) .......................................... 115
Replacing bulbs (vehicles with halo-
gen headlamps) ................................... 115
Windshield wipers ................................ 117
Climate control ................................. 122
Overview of climate control systems ... 122
Operating the climate control sys-
tems .................................................... 127
Setting the air vents ............................ 132
Driving and parking .......................... 134
Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle ..... 134
Driving ................................................. 134
DYNAMIC SELECT controller ............... 142
Automatic transmission ....................... 143
Refueling ............................................. 150
Parking ................................................ 156
Driving tips .......................................... 159
Driving systems ................................... 169
Towing a trailer .................................... 219
Bicycle rack ......................................... 225
On-board computer and displays .... 228
Important safety notes ........................ 228
Displays and operation ........................ 228
Menus and submenus ......................... 231
Display messages ............................... 243
Warning and indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster ............................... 274
Multimedia system ........................... 287
General notes ...................................... 287
Important safety notes ........................ 287
Function restrictions ............................ 287
Operating system ................................ 288
Stowage and features ...................... 295
Stowage areas ..................................... 2952
Contents

BBack button ....................................... 288
Bag hook ............................................ 300
Ball coupling
Installing ........................................ 221
Removing ....................................... 224
BAS (Brake Assist System) ................. 67
Battery (SmartKey)
Checking .......................................... 80
Important safety notes .................... 80
Replacing ......................................... 80
Battery (vehicle)
Charging ........................................ 342
Display message ............................ 257
Important safety notes .................. 340
Jump starting ................................. 342
Overview ........................................ 340
Belt
see Seat belts
Belt warning ......................................... 48
Bicycle rack ....................................... 225
Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating ................. 237
Display message ............................ 264
Notes/function .............................. 204
Trailer towing ................................. 206
see Active Blind Spot Assist
BlueTEC
Adding DEF .................................... 153
BlueTEC (DEF) .................................... 386
Bluetooth ®
Searching for a mobile phone ........ 291
Searching for a mobile phone
(device manager) ........................... 292
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 287
Telephony ...................................... 291
Brake Assist
see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 249
Notes ............................................. 388
Brake force distribution
see EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
Brake lamps
Display message ............................ 255 Brake linings
Display message ............................ 249
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 66
BAS .................................................. 67
Brake fluid (notes) ......................... 388
Braking assistance appropriate to
the situation ..................................... 69
Display message ............................ 244
High-performance brake system .... 163
Hill start assist ............................... 139
Important safety notes .................. 161
Maintenance .................................. 162
Parking brake ................................ 157
Riding tips ...................................... 161
Warning lamp ................................. 276
Braking assistance appropriate to
the situatio n
Fu ncti
on/notes ................................ 69
Breakdown
Where will I find...? ........................ 334
see Flat tire
see Towing away
Brightness control (instrument
cluster lighting) ................................... 37
Bulbs
see Replacing bulbs
C
California
Important notice for retail cus-
tomers and lessees .......................... 28
Calling up a malfunction
see Display messages
Car
see Vehicle
Care
360° camera ................................. 330
Car wash ........................................ 326
Carpets .......................................... 333
Display ........................................... 331
Exhaust pipe .................................. 330
Exterior lights ................................ 329
Gear or selector lever .................... 332
Interior ........................................... 331
Matte finish ................................... 328
Notes ............................................. 3266
Index

Indicators
see Turn signals
Insect protection on the radiator .... 322
Instrument cluster
Overview .......................................... 37
Warning and indicator lamps .......... .3 7
Instrument cluster lighting .............. 228
Intelligent Light System
Activating/deactivating ................ .2 38
Display message ............................ 255
Overview ........................................ 112
Interior lighting
Automatic control .......................... 114
Emergency lighting ........................ 115
General notes ................................ 114
Manual control ............................... 114
Overview ........................................ 114
Reading lamp ................................. 114
iPod ®
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual ................................................. .2 87
J Jack
Storage location ............................ 335
Using ............................................. 373
Jump starting (engine) ..................... .3 42
K
Key positions
KEYLESS-GO .................................. 135
SmartKey ....................................... 135
KEYLESS-GO
Activating ......................................... 78
Convenience closing feature ............ 91
Deactivation ..................................... 78
Display message ............................ 273
Locking ............................................ 78
Removing the Start/Stop button ... 136
Start function ................................... 79
Start/Stop button .......................... 135
Starting the engine ........................ 137
Unlocking ......................................... 78
Kickdown
Driving tips ................................... .1 46
Manual gearshifting ....................... 149 Knee bag .............................................. 50
L Lamps
see Warning and indicator lamps
Lane detection (automatic)
see Lane Keeping Assist
Lane Keeping Assist
Activating/deactivating ................. 237
Display message ............................ 263
Function/information .................... 206
see Active Lane Keeping Assist
Lap time (RACETIMER) ...................... 241
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat
anchors ................................................ 62
Level control
AIRMATIC ...................................... 185
Level control (display message) ...... 260
Level control (vehicle with the Off-
Road Engineering package)
Basic settings ................................ 179
Function/notes ............................. 179
Important safety notes .................. 179
License plate lamp (display mes-
sage) ................................................... 255
Light function, active
Display message ............................ 255
Light sensor (display message) ....... 255
Light switch
Operation ....................................... 110
Lights
Activating/deactivating the Intel-
ligent Light System ........................ 238
Active light function ....................... 112
Adaptive Highbeam Assist ............. 113
Automatic headlamp mode ............ 110
Fog lamps (extended) .................... 113
Hazard warning lamps ................... 112
High beam flasher .......................... 111
High-beam headlamps ................... 111
Highway mode ............................... 113
Light switch ................................... 110
Low-beam headlamps .................... 111
Off-road lights ................................ 113
Parking lamps ................................ 111
Rear fog lamp ................................ 111
Standing lamps .............................. 111 Index 13

Restraint system warning lamp The functions of the restraint system are
checked after the ignition is switched on and at
regular intervals while the engine is running.
Therefore, malfunctions can be detected in
good time.
The u restraint system warning lamp on the
instrument cluster lights up when the ignition is
switched on. It goes out no later than a few sec-
onds after the vehicle is started. The compo-
nents of the restraint system are in operational
readiness.
A malfunction has occurred if the u restraint
system warning lamp: R
does not light up after the ignition is switched
on R
does not go out after a few seconds with the
engine running R
lights up again while the engine is running
G WARNING
If the restraint system is malfunctioning,
restraint system components may be trig-
gered unintentionally or may not deploy as
intended during an accident. This can affect
for example the Emergency Tensioning
Device or the air bag. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Have the restraint system checked and
repaired in a qualified specialist workshop as
soon as possible.
PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lamp
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp C and
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp D are
part of the Occupant Classification System
(OCS). The indicator lamps display the status of the
front-passenger front air bag. R
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON lights up for 60 sec-
onds, subsequently both indicator lamps are
off (PASSENGER AIR BAG ON and OFF): the
front-passenger front air bag is able to deploy
in the event of an accident. R
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF lights up: the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated. It will
then not be deployed in the event of an acci-
dent.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp is
off, only the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp shows the status of the front-passenger
front air bag. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp may be lit continuously or be off.
Depending on the person in the front-passenger
seat, the front-passenger front air bag must
either be deactivated or enabled; see the fol-
lowing points. You must make sure of this both
before and during a journey. R
Children in a child restraint system:
whether the front-passenger front air bag is
enabled or deactivated depends on the instal-
led child restraint system, and the age and
size of the child. Therefore, be sure to observe
the notes on the "Occupant Classification
System (OCS)" ( Y
page 51) and on "Chil-
dren in the vehicle" ( Y
page 59). There you
w ill also find instructions on rearward and
forward-facing child restraint systems on the
front-passenger seat. R
All other persons: depending on the classi-
fication of the person in the front-passenger
seat, the front-passenger front air bag is ena-
bled or deactivated ( Y
page 51). Be sure to
observe the notes on "Seat
belts“ ( Y
page 45) and "Air bags"
( Y
page 49). There you can also find infor-
mation on the correct seat position.
Seat belts
Introduction
Seat belts are the most effective means of
restricting the movement of vehicle occupants
in the event of an accident or the vehicle rolling
over. This reduces the risk of vehicle occupants
coming into contact with parts of the vehicle
interior or being ejected from the vehicle. Fur-
thermore, the seat belt helps to keep the vehicleOccupant safety 45
Safety Z

G WARNING
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is lit, the front-passenger front air bag is
disabled. It will not be deployed in the event of
an accident and cannot perform its intended
protective function. A person in the front-
passenger seat could then, for example, come
into contact with the vehicle's interior, espe-
cially if the person is sitting too close to the
dashboard. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
When the front-passenger seat is occupied,
always ensure that: R
the classification of the person in the front-
passenger seat is correct and the front-
passenger front air bag is enabled or disa-
bled in accordance with the person in the
front-passenger seat R
the front-passenger seat has been moved
back as far back as possible. R
the person is seated correctly.
Make sure, both before and during the jour-
ney, that the status of the front-passenger
front air bag is correct.
G WARNING
If you secure a child in a rearward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat
and the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is off, the front-passenger front air bag
can deploy in the event of an accident. The
child could be struck by the air bag. This poses
an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Make sure that the front-passenger front air
bag has been deactivated. The PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit.
NEVER use a rearward-facing child restraint
on a seat protected by an ACTIVE FRONT AIR-
BAG in front of it; DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY
to the child can occur.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
stays off, do not install a rearward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat.
You can find more information on OCS under
"Problems with the Occupant Classification Sys-
tem" ( Y
page 55). G WARNING
If you secure a child in a forward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat
and you position the front-passenger seat too
close to the dashboard, the child could, in the
event of an accident: R
come into contact with the vehicle's inte-
rior if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indi-
cator lamp is lit, for example R
be struck by the air bag if the PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is off
This poses an increased risk of injury or even
fatal injury.
Move the front-passenger seat as far back as
possible. Always make sure that the shoulder
belt strap is correctly routed from the vehicle
belt sash guide to the shoulder belt guide on
the child restraint system. The shoulder belt
strap must be routed forwards and down-
wards from the vehicle belt sash guide. If nec-
essary, adjust the vehicle belt sash guide and
the front-passenger seat accordingly. Always
observe the child restraint system manufac-
turer's installation instructions.
If OCS determines that: R
The front-passenger seat is unoccupied, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
lights up after the system self-test and
remains lit. This indicates that the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated. R
The front-passenger seat is occupied by a
child of up to twelve months old, in a standard
child restraint system, the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp lights up after the
system self-test and remains lit. This indi-
cates that the front-passenger front air bag is
deactivated.
But even in the case of a twelve-month-old
child, in a standard child restraint system, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp can
go out after the system self-test. This indi-
cates that the front-passenger front air bag is
activated. The result of the classification is
dependent on, among other factors, the child
restraint system and the child's stature. It is
recommended that you install the child
restraint sy stem on a suitable rear seat.Occupant safety 53
Safety Z

R
The front-passenger seat is occupied by a
person of smaller stature (e.g. a teenager or
small adult), the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp lights up and remains lit after
the system self-test depending on the result
of the classification or, alternatively, goes out. -
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is off, move the front-passenger seat
as far back as possible. Alternatively, a per-
son of smaller stature can sit on a rear seat. -
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is lit, a person of smaller stature
should not use the front-passenger seat. R
The front-passenger seat is occupied by an
adult or a person of adult stature, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
goes out after the system self-test. This indi-
cates that the front-passenger front air bag is
activated.
If children are traveling in the vehicle, be sure to
observe the notes on "Children in the vehicle"
( Y
page 59).
When the Occupant Classification System
(OCS) is malfunctioning, the red u restraint
system warning lamp on the instrument cluster
and the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp light up simultaneously. The front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated in this
case and does not deploy during an accident.
Have the Occupant Classification System (OCS)
checked and repaired immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose.
If the front-passenger seat, the seat cover or the
seat cushion are damaged, have the necessary
repair work carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. Mercedes-Benz recommends that
you use an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for this purpose.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use seat accessories that
have been approved by Mercedes-Benz.
If the driver's air bag deploys, this does not
mean that the front-passenger front air bag will
also deploy. The Occupant Classification Sys-
tem (OCS) categorizes the occupant on the
front-passenger seat. Depending on that result,
the front-passenger front air bag is either ena-
bled or deactivated. System self-test
G DANGER
If both the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps do
not light up during the system self-test, the
system is malfunctioning. The front-
passenger front air bag might be triggered
unintentionally or might not be triggered at all
in the event of an accident with high deceler-
ation. This poses an increased risk of injury or
even fatal injury.
In this case the front-passenger seat may not
be used. Do not install a child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat. Have the Occu-
pant Classification System (OCS) checked
and repaired immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
G WARNING
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp remains lit after the system self-test, the
front-passenger front air bag is disabled. It will
not be deployed in the event of an accident. In
this case, the front-passenger front air bag
cannot perform its intended protective func-
tion, e.g. when a person is seated in the front-
passenger seat.
That person could, for example, come into
contact with the vehicle's interior, especially
if the person is sitting too close to the dash-
board. This poses an increased risk of injury or
even fatal injury.
When the front-passenger seat is occupied,
always ensure that: R
the classification of the person in the front-
passenger seat is correct and the front-
passenger front air bag is enabled or disa-
bled in accordance with the person in the
front-passenger seat R
the person is seated properly with a cor-
rectly fastened seatbelt R
the front-passenger seat has been moved
as far back as possible
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp remains lit when it should not, the front-54
Occupant safety
Safety

The interior lighting automatically switches on if
you: R
unlock the vehicle R
open a door R
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
The interior lighting is switched on for a set time
when the SmartKey is removed from the ignition
lock. This delayed switch-off can be adjusted via
the multimedia system (see Digital Operator's
Manual).
Crash-responsive emergency lighting The interior lighting is activated automatically if
the vehicle is involved in an accident. X
To switch off the crash-responsive emer-
gency lighting: press the hazard warning
lamp button.
or X
Lock and then unlock the vehicle using the
SmartKey.
Replacing bulbs (vehicles with LED
headlamps) The front and rear light clusters of your vehicle
are equipped with light-emitting diodes. Do not
replace the vehicle's bulbs yourself. Contact a
qualified specialist workshop which has the nec-
essary specialist knowledge and tools to carry
out the work required.
Lamps are an important aspect of vehicle safety.
You must therefore make sure that these func-
tion correctly at all times. Have the headlamp
setting checked regularly.
Replacing bulbs (vehicles with halo-
gen headlamps)
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Bulbs, lamps and connectors can get very hot
when operating. If you change a bulb, you
could burn yourself on these components.
There is a risk of injury. Allow these components to cool down before
changing a bulb.
Do not use a bulb if it has been dropped or if its
glass tube has been scratched.
The bulb may explode if: R
you touch it R
it is hot R
you drop it R
you scratch it
Use bulbs only in closed lamps that have been
designed for this purpose. Only install spare
bulbs of the same type and the specified volt-
age.
Marks on the glass tube reduce the service life
of the bulbs. Do not touch the glass tube with
your bare hands. If necessary, clean the glass
tube when cold with alcohol or spirit and rub it
off with a lint-free cloth.
Protect bulbs from moisture during operation.
Do not allow bulbs to come into contact with
liquids.
Replace only the bulbs listed ( Y
page 115).
Have the bulbs that you cannot replace yourself
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If you require assistance replacing bulbs, con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the new bulb still does not light up, consult a
qualified specialist workshop.
Headlamps and lights are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times. Have
the headlamp setting checked regularly.
Overview of bulb replacement - bulb
types You can replace the following bulbs. The bulb
type can be found in the legend.Replacing bulbs (vehicles with halogen headlamps) 115
Lights and windshield wipers Z

Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they: R
release the parking brake. R
shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position PR
Start the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children.
G WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
G WARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
ignite if in contact with the exhaust system or
parts of the engine that heat up. There is a risk
of fire.
Carry out regular checks to make sure that
there are no flammable foreign materials in
the engine compartment or in the exhaust
system.
General notes Vehicles with a gasoline engine: the catalytic
converter is preheated for up to 30 seconds
after a cold start. The sound of the engine may
change during this time.
Automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position ]
( Y
page 144).
The transmission position indicator on the
multifunction display shows ]
( Y
page 145). i You can start the engine in transmission
position ] and \\ .
Starting procedure with the SmartKey X
To start a diesel engine: turn the SmartKey
to position H in the ignition lock
( Y
page 135).
The \( preglow indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. X
Turn the SmartKey to position I in the igni-
tion lock ( Y
page 135) and release it as soon
as the engine is running.
i Vehicles with a diesel engine: you can
start the engine without preglow if the engine
is warm.
Using KEYLESS-GO to start the engine The Start/Stop button can be used to start the
vehicle without inserting the SmartKey into the
ignition lock. The Start/Stop button must be
inserted in the ignition lock and the SmartKey
must be in the vehicle. This mode for starting the
engine operates independently of the ECO
start/stop automatic engine start function. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed. X
Press the Start/Stop button once
( Y
page 135).
Vehicles with a gasoline engine: the engine
starts.
Vehicles with a diesel engine: preglow is
activated and the engine starts.
Starting procedure via smartphone Observe the important safety notes on starting
the engine ( Y
page 136).
You can also start your engine via your smart-
phone from outside the vehicle. In this case, the
previously selected climate control setting is
activated. In this way you can cool or heat the
interior of the vehicle before starting the jour-
ney.
Only start the engine via your smartphone if it is
safe to start and run the engine where your vehi-
cle is parked.
Observe the legal stipulations in the area where
your vehicle is parked. Engine start via smart-
phone may be limited to certain countries or
regions. Driving 137
Driving an d parking Z

R
the outside temperature and the atmospheric
air pressure is within the range that is suitable
for the system R
the engine is at normal operating temperature R
the set temperature for the vehicle interior
has been reached R
the battery is sufficiently charged R
the system detects that the windshield is not
fogged up when the air-conditioning system is
switched on R
the hood is closed R
the driver's door is closed and the driver's
seat belt is fastened
All of the vehicle's systems remain active when
the engine is stopped automatically.
The HOLD function can also be activated if the
engine has been switched off automatically. It is
then not necessary to continue applying the
brakes during the automatic stop phase. When
you depress the accelerator pedal, the engine
starts automatically and the braking effect of
the HOLD function is deactivated.
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles): automatic engine switch-off can take
place a maximum of four times in a row (initial
stop, then three subsequent stops).
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the number of con-
secutive automatic engine switch-offs is unlimi-
ted.
Automatic engine start The engine starts automatically if: R
you switch off the ECO start/stop function by
pressing the ECO button R
in transmission position D or N the brake
pedal is released and the HOLD function is not
active R
you depress the accelerator pedal R
you engage reverse gear RR
you move the transmission out of position PR
you switch to the Sport Plus drive program
(Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 4MATIC) R
you switch to the Sport Plus or Sport drive
program (Mercedes-AMG vehicles) R
you activate manual gearshifting (Mercedes-
AMG vehicles) R
you switch to the Offroad drive program
(vehicles without Off-Road Engineering pack-
age) R
you switch to the Offroad or Offroad Plus
drive program (vehicles with Off-Road Engi-
neering package) R
you unfasten your seat belt or open the driv-
er's door R
the vehicle starts to roll R
the brake system requires this R
the temperature in the vehicle interior devi-
ates from the set range R
the system detects moisture on the wind-
shield when the air-conditioning system is
switched on R
the battery's condition of charge is too low
Shifting the transmission to position P does not
start the engine.
Deactivating or activating the ECO
start/stop function All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles)
X
To deactivate: press ECO button C .
Indicator lamp D goes out.X
To activate: press ECO button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up.
If indicator lamp D is off, the ECO start/stop
function has been deactivated manually or as
the result of a malfunction.140
Driving
Dr ivi ng an d parking

Most U.S. states and all Canadian provinces
require by law: R
Safety chains between the towing vehicle and
the trailer. The chains should be cross-wound
under the trailer drawbar. They must be fas-
tened to the vehicle's trailer coupling, not to
the bumper or the axle.
Leave enough play in the chains to make tight
cornering possible. R
A separate brake system for certain types of
trailer. R
Safety switch for braked trailers. Check the
specific legal requirements applicable to your
state.
If the trailer becomes detached from the tow-
ing vehicle, the safety feature triggers the
trailer brakes.
Towing a trailer There are numerous legal requirements con-
cerning the towing of a trailer, e.g. speed restric-
tions. Make sure that your car/trailer combina-
tion complies with the local regulations: R
in your place of residence R
in the location to which you are driving
The police and local authorities can provide reli-
able information.
Observe the following when towing a trailer: R
To gain driving experience and to become
accustomed to the new handling characteris-
tics, you should practice the following in a
traffic-free location: -
cornering -
stopping -
backing up R
Before driving, check: -
trailer tow hitch -
safety switch for braked trailers -
safety chains -
electrical connections -
lights -
wheels R
Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer. R
If the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away carefully. Brake manually using the brake controller and check whether
the brakes function correctly. R
Secure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is in
motion. R
When you couple up a trailer, check at regular
intervals that the load is firmly secured. If the
trailer is equipped with trailer lights and
brakes, check the trailer to ensure that these
are working. R
Bear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when driving
without one. Avoid sudden steering move-
ments. R
The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly, has a decreased
gradient climbing capability and a longer
braking distance.
It is more susceptible to side winds and
requires more careful steering. R
If possible, do not brake suddenly, but instead
depress the brake pedal moderately at first so
that the trailer can activate its brakes. Then
increase the pressure on the brake pedal. R
If the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears on uphill or downhill gra-
dients, shift to a lower gear using the left-hand
steering wheel paddle shifter.
A lower gear and lower speed reduce the risk
of engine failure. R
When driving downhill, shift to a lower gear to
utilize the engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if instal-
led, the trailer brakes. R
If the coolant temperature increases dramat-
ically while the air-condition ing system is
switched on, switch off the air-conditioning
system.
Coolant heat can also be dissipated by open-
ing the windows and switching the ventilation
blower and the interior temperature to the
highest level. R
When overtaking, pay particular attention to
the extended length of your vehicle/trailer
combination.
Due to the length of the vehicle/trailer com-
bination, you require additional road space in
relation to the vehicle you are overtaking
before you can change back to the original
lane.Towing a trailer 223
Driving and parking Z