height MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2015 MY15 Operator’s Manual

R
Adjust the head restraint so that it supports
the back of the head at eye level.
R The distance from the pedals should be
such that you can depress them fully.
Observe also the safety notes in the section
on "Air bags" (Y page 47)and "Children in the
vehicle" (Y page 51).
If you swap over the head restraints for the
front and rear seats, you will not be able to
adjust the height and angle of the head
restraints to the correct position.
Use the head restraint pad to adjust the head
restraint so that it is as close as possible to
the back of your head.
Before the journey, make sure the head
restraints have been correctly set for each of the vehicle's passengers (Y page 86).Driver's and co-driver's seat
0043
Seat fore-and-aft adjustment
0044 Lumbar support adjustment
0087 Seat backrest adjustment
0085 Seat height adjustment
0083 Seat cushion angle adjustment
0084 Seat suspension adjustment
006B Seat suspension lock
i Depending on the seat model, some
adjustments may not be available. You can find information on rotating the
front seats under "Swiveling front seats"
(Y
page 84).
X To adjust the seat fore-and-aft position:
pull lever 0043up.
X Slide the seat forwards or back.
X Release lever 0043.
X Slide the seat forwards or back until you
hear it engage.
X To adjust the backrest: turn handwheel
0087 towards the front.
The seat backrest moves to a vertical posi-
tion.
X Turn handwheel 0087towards the rear.
The seat backrest tilts towards the rear.
X To adjust the seat height: press or pull
lever 0085repeatedly until you have reached
the desired seat height.
X To adjust the seat angle: turn handwheel
0083 towards the front.
The front of the seat cushion is lowered.
X Turn handwheel 0083towards the rear.
The front of the seat cushion is raised.
i The lumbar support allows you to use the
backrest to increase the support provided
to the lumbar spine.
When the lumbar support is correctly
adjusted, it reduces strain on your back
while driving.
X To adjust the lumbar support: turn hand-
wheel 0044upwards.
This increases the support provided to the
lumbar region.
X Turn handwheel 0044downwards.
This reduces the support provided to the
lumbar region. Seats
83Seats, steering wheel and mirrors Z

Locking mechanism lever on the feet of the bench
seat
X To remove the rear bench seat: swing all
levers 0043of the bench seat completely
upwards.
The bench seat moves back into the seat
mounting recesses on the vehicle floor.
X Lift the bench seat upwards out of the seat
mounting recesses. i
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
number of seats for models registered as
passenger vehicles.
X To install the rear bench seat: observe
the prescribed installation position of the
bench seat.
Install the two-seat bench seat only on the
driver's side.
X Check mounting shells 0044on the vehicle
floor.
X Position the bench seat in the direction of
travel in corresponding mounting shells 0044.X
Slide the bench seat forwards until you
hear the locking mechanisms engage.
X Check levers 0043on the anchorages of the
bench seat.
All levers 0043must be flush to the vehicle
floor. Head restraints
G
WARNING
If head restraints are not installed and adjus-
ted correctly, they cannot provide protection
as intended. There is an increased risk of
injury in the head and neck area, e.g. in the
event of an accident or when braking.
Always drive with the head restraints instal-
led. Before driving off, make sure for every
vehicle occupant that the center of the head
restraint supports the back of the head at
about eye level.
Do not change over the head restraints for the
front and rear seats. Otherwise, it will not be
possible to correctly adjust the height and
angle of the head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is as close as possible to your head. Head restraint (example: luxury head restraint on
the co-driver's seat)
0043 Release button
0044 Head restraint height
0087 Head restraint angle (luxury head
restraints only) 86
SeatsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

X
Make sure that the key is in position 1or 2
in the ignition lock.
X To switch on: press the0072button
repeatedly until the desired heating level
has been set.
X To switch off: press the0072button
repeatedly until all indicator lamps go out.
If the indicator lamps of the current heating
level in the 0072button flash, the seat heat-
ing has switched off automatically. In this
case, too many electrical consumers are
switched on or the battery charge is not suf-
ficient. The seat heating will automatically
switch back to the current heating level when
enough on-board voltage is available again. Steering wheel
G
WARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you do the following while driving:
R adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
R fasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint, steer-
ing wheel and mirror and fasten your seat belt before starting the engine. G
WARNING
If the steering wheel is unlocked while the
vehicle is in motion, it could change position
unexpectedly. This could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle. There is a risk of an
accident.
Before starting off, make sure the steering
wheel is locked. Never unlock the steering
wheel while the vehicle is in motion. G
WARNING
Children could injure themselves if they
adjust the steering wheel. There is a risk of
injury. When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
The steering wheel can still be adjusted if the
key has been removed. 0043
Steering column fore-and-aft adjustment
0044 Steering column height
0087 Lever
X To set the steering wheel: swing lever0087
down until it engages.
The steering wheel is unlocked.
X Move the steering wheel to the desired
position.
X Pull lever 0087up to the stop.
The steering wheel is locked again. 88
Steering wheelSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

cific maintenance work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
service requirements of the dealer listed here
on the inside title page. Details can be found
in the Maintenance Booklet. Short journey
! If the vehicle is predominantly used for
short-distance driving or is stationary for
long periods, this could lead to a malfunc-
tion in the automatic cleaning function for
the diesel particle filter. This can lead to
blockage of the diesel particle filter. This
can also result in fuel collecting in the
engine oil and cause engine failure.
Therefore, if you mainly drive short distances,
drive on a highway or an inter-urban road for
20 minutes every 300 miles (500 km). This
facilitates the diesel particle filter's burn-off
process. Speed limiter
G
WARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed could
lead to tire damage or the tire bursting. There is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe the
tire load rating and speed rating required for
your vehicle.
As the driver, you must find out about the
maximum speed of the vehicle and the result-
ing permissible maximum speed of the tires
(tire and tire pressure). In particular, also
observe the tire approval regulations for each
country.
You must not exceed the speed limit for the
tires listed in the tire pressure tables. You can find information on tire pressures in the
"Wheels and tires" section (Y page 288).You can permanently limit the maximum
speed of your vehicle to 55 mph (90 km/h),
60 mph (100 km/h) or 75 mph (120 km/h).
We recommend that you use an authorized
Sprinter Dealer for the programming of the
maximum speed.
Before overtaking, take into consideration
that the engine speed limiter prevents the
speed increasing beyond the programmed
maximum speed. Driving abroad
Service An extensive network of authorized Sprinter
Dealers is also at your disposal when you are
traveling abroad. Nevertheless, please bear in
mind that service facilities or replacement
parts may not always be immediately availa-
ble. You can obtain a list of workshops at any
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Fuel In some countries, only fuels with a higher
sulfur content are available.
Unsuitable fuel can cause engine damage.
Information on fuel (Y page 318).
Low-beam headlamps If you are traveling in countries where vehi-
cles are driven on the opposite side of the
road to that in which the vehicle is registered,
you will need to:
R have the halogen headlamps partially
masked
R have the Bi-Xenon headlamps set to sym-
metrical low beam
This prevents glare to oncoming traffic and no
longer illuminates the edge of the road to the same height and distance.
Have the headlamps masked or adjusted at a qualified specialist workshop before you
cross the border, but as close to it as possi-
ble. Driving tips
153Driving and parking Z

When you return from your journey, and as
close to the border as possible, you will need
to:
R remove the adhesive surfaces from your
halogen headlamps and clean the glass of
the headlamps if necessary
R have the Bi-Xenon headlamps reset to
asymmetrical low beam at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop Transport by rail
Transporting your vehicle by rail may be sub-
ject to certain restrictions or require special
measures to be taken in some countries due
to varying tunnel heights and loading stand-
ards.
You can obtain further information from any
authorized Sprinter dealer. Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads. Downhill gradients !
Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
On long and steep downhill gradients, you
should change down to shift range 0048or0047
in good time. This should be observed in par- ticular when driving with a laden vehicle and
when towing a trailer.
i You must also change the shift range in
good time when cruise control is switched
on.
You thereby make use of the braking effect of the engine and do not have to brake as oftento maintain the speed. This relieves the load
on the service brake and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. The brakes are
cooled down more quickly in the airflow.
Wet road surfaces If you have been driving for a long time in
heavy rain without braking, there may be a
delayed response when you first apply the
brakes. This may also occur after driving
through a car wash or deep water. 154
Driving tipsDriving and parking

sure nobody is standing between the vehicle
and the trailer.
A trailer which is incorrectly coupled to the
towing vehicle could break away. A correctly
coupled trailer must be positioned horizon-
tally behind the towing vehicle.
Ensure that the following weights are not
exceeded:
R the permissible noseweight
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R the permissible gross weight of both the
towing vehicle and the trailer
R the permissible gross combination weight
The applicable permissible values that may
not be exceeded can be found:
R in your vehicle documents
R on the type plates for the trailer tow hitch
R on the type plates for the trailer
R on the vehicle identification plate
(Y page 316).
Where the values differ, the lowest is valid.
You will find values approved by the manu-
facturer on the identification plates and those
for the towing vehicle in the "Permissible
trailer loads and trailer drawbar noseweights"
section (Y page 177).
Your vehicle behaves differently with a trailer than without one.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is more susceptible to strong crosswinds
R requires more sensitive steering
R has a larger turning circle
This may impair the handling characteristics. When towing a trailer, always adjust your
speed to suit the road and weather condi-
tions. Drive carefully. Maintain a safe dis-
tance. If you require any further explanation of the
information contained in the Operator's Man-
ual, please contact an authorized Sprinter
dealer.
General notes R
Observe the legally prescribed maximum
speed for vehicle/trailer combinations in
the relevant country, state or Canadian
province. Before setting off, check the vehi-
cle documents of the your trailer to find out
the permissible maximum speed.
This reduces the risk of accidents.
R Install only an approved trailer coupling on
your vehicle. Only use a ball coupling that is
approved for your vehicle and Sprinter
trailer tow hitch. More information on the
availability, mounting and installation of the
trailer electrics is available at any qualified specialist workshop.
R The turn signals on the trailer are only guar-
anteed to function when incandescent
bulbs are used. You can obtain more infor-
mation about installing the trailer electrics
at any qualified specialist workshop.
R The trailer coupling is one of the most
important vehicle parts with regard to road
safety. The notes on operation, care and
maintenance issued by the manufacturer
should be observed.
R The bumpers of your vehicle are not suita-
ble for installing detachable trailer cou-
plings.
R Do not attach rented trailer tow hitches or
other detachable trailer tow hitches to the
bumper.
R Minimize the risk of damage to the ball cou-
pling. If you do not require the ball coupling,
remove it from the ball coupling recess.
Weight information can be found in the “Per-
missible trailer and drawbar noseweights”
section (Y page 177).
i The height of the ball neck changes
according to the load on the vehicle. If this 174
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

is case, use a trailer with a height-adjusta-
ble trailer drawbar.
Driving tips The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combination depends on the type of
trailer. Before setting off, check the vehicle
documents of the your trailer to find out the
permissible maximum speed. Observe the
legally prescribed maximum speed for vehi-
cle/trailer combinations in the relevant coun-
try, state or Canadian province.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison to when driving without a trailer and it will
consume more fuel.
On long, steep downhill slopes you must
select shift range 3,2or 1in good time.
i This also applies if cruise control is acti-
vated.
This enables you to utilize the engine's brak-
ing effect and you do not need to brake so
heavily to keep the correct speed, which pro-
tects the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need to brake additionally, to
not depress the brake pedal constantly, but
periodically.
Driving tips If the trailer begins to swing from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary.
i You can reduce the risk of the trailer
swinging and rocking by retrofitting anti-
roll bars or trailer stability programs. More information is available from your author-
ized Sprinter Dealer.
R Maintain a greater distance than you would
when driving without towing a trailer.
R Avoid sudden braking. Apply the brakes
gently at first to allow the trailer brake to overrun. Then, increase the brake force
quickly.
R The figures for the gradient climbing capa-
bilities from a standstill refer to sea level.
When driving in mountainous areas, note
that the power output of the engine, and
with it its gradient climbing capability,
decrease with increasing altitude. Coupling up a trailer
! Do not connect the trailer's brake system
(if featured) to the hydraulic brake system
of the towing vehicle, as the latter is equip- ped with an anti-lock brake system. Doing
so will result in a loss of function of the
brake systems of both the vehicle and the
trailer. Trailer coupled ready for use
X Make sure the selector lever of the auto-
matic transmission is in position P.
X Apply the parking brake of the vehicle.
X Close all doors.
X Position the trailer horizontally behind your
vehicle.
i The height of the ball neck changes
according to the load on the vehicle. In this
case, use a trailer with a height-adjustable
trailer drawbar.
X Couple the trailer.
X Establish all electrical and other connec-
tions to the trailer. When doing so, hook the
breakaway cable of the trailer into eye-
let 0043 on the ball coupling. Towing a trailer
175Driving and parking Z

Hood release lever in the driver's footwell
Observe the safety notes when you open the
hood.
X Stop your vehicle as far away from traffic as
possible on level ground.
X Switch off the engine.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
X Pull release handle 0043on the hood.
The hood is released. X
Reach into the gap and push lever 0044on the
hood catch up. X
Swing the hood upwards until support strut
0087 engages and the hood is supported.
Closing the hood G
WARNING
If the hood is unlatched, it could tip forward
during rapid deceleration of the vehicle and
hit persons or objects within its path. There is
a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, always make sure that the hood is closed and locked completely before driving
off.
If the hood is not locked and you are already
driving at walking pace:
R the yellow 003Eindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes on for vehicles
without steering-wheel buttons.
R the 003E Hood open
Hood open display appears for
vehicles with steering-wheel buttons.
! When you press the support strut back,
make sure that you do not press it against
the detent position and cause it to bend.
! Do not use your hands to push the hood
down. You could damage it otherwise.
X Lift the hood slightly.
X Press support strut 0087towards the back.
X Lower the hood and allow it to fall with
momentum from a height of approximately
1 ft (30 cm).
The hood locks audibly.
X Check that the hood is correctly locked.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. If the hood is not cor-
rectly engaged, open the hood again. Let
the hood fall with a little more momentum. Engine compartment
249Maintenance and care Z

0087
Maximum tire pressure (Y page 290)
0085 Manufacturer
0083 Tire material (Y page 302)
0084 Tire size designation, load-bearing capa-
city and speed index (Y page 300)
006B Tire name
The markings described above are on the tire in addition to the tire name (sales designa-
tion) and the manufacturer's name.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example.
Tire size designation, load bearing index and speed index G
WARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed could
lead to tire damage or the tire bursting. There is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe the
tire load rating and speed rating required for
your vehicle. 0043
Design standard
0044 Tire width
0087 Nominal aspect ratio in %
0085 Tire code
0083 Rim diameter
0084 Load bearing index
006B Speed index
General: depending on the manufacturer's
standards, the size imprinted in the tire wall may not contain any letters or may contain
one letter
0043that precedes the size descrip-
tion
If "LT" precedes the size description (as
shown above): these are light truck tires
according to U.S. manufacturing standards.
If "C" precedes the size description: these are
commercial motor vehicle tires according to
European manufacturing standards.
Tire width: tire width0044shows the nominal
tire width in millimeters.
Aspect ratio: aspect ratio0087is the size ratio
between the tire height and tire width and is
shown in percent. The aspect ratio is calcu-
lated by dividing the tire width by the tire
height.
Tire code: tire code0085specifies the tire type.
"R" represents radial tires. "D" represents
diagonal tires, "B" represents diagonal radial
tires.
Rim diameter: rim diameter0083is the diam-
eter of the bead seat, not the diameter of the rim flange. The rim diameter is specified in
inches (in).
Load-bearing index: load-bearing index0084
is a numerical code that specifies the maxi-
mum load-bearing capacity of a tire.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit. The maximum permissi-
ble load can be found on the vehicle's Tire and
Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on the driver's side (Y page 295).
Example:
The load-bearing index 120 indicates a max-
imum load of 3,042 lb (1,380 kg) for the tire.
If two load-bearing capacity indices are speci- fied (as shown above), the first number states
the load-bearing capacity for single tires, the second number the load-bearing capacity for
twin tires. For further information on the max- imum tire load in kilograms and pounds, see
(Y page 301).
For further information on the load-bearing
index, see "Load index" (Y page 301).300
What you should know about wheels and tiresWheels and tires

is bar. 100 kilopascals (kPa) are the equiva-
lent of 1 bar.
Load index
In addition to the load bearing index, a load
index can be stamped onto the sidewall of the
tire. It specifies the load-bearing capacity of
the tire more precisely.
Curb weight
The weight of a vehicle with standard equip-
ment including the maximum filling capacity
of fuel, oil, and coolant. It also includes the
air-conditioning system and optional equip-
ment if these are installed on the vehicle, but
does not include passengers or luggage.
Maximum tire load
The maximum tire load in kilograms or
pounds is the maximum weight for which a
tire is approved.
Maximum permissible tire pressure
Maximum permissible tire pressure for one
tire.
Maximum load on one tire
Maximum load on one tire. This is calculated
by dividing the maximum axle load of one axle by two.
PSI (Pounds per square inch)
Standard unit of measurement for tire pres-
sure.
Aspect ratio
Relationship between tire height and width in
percent.
tire pressure
Pressure inside the tire applying an outward
force to every square inch of the tire's sur-
face. Tire pressure is specified in pounds per square inch (psi), in kilopascal (kPa) or in bar.
Tire pressure should only be corrected when
the tires are cold. Cold tire pressure
The tires are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked for at least
three hours without direct sunlight on the
tires, and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further
than 1 mile (1.6 km)
Tire tread
The part of the tire th at comes into contact
with the road.
Tire bead
The tire bead ensures that the tire sits
securely on the wheel. There are several steel wires in the bead to prevent the tire from
coming loose from the wheel rim.
Sidewall
The part of the tire between the tread and the
tire bead.
Weight of optional extras
The combined weight of those optional extras
that weigh more than the replaced standard
parts and more than 2.3 kg (5lbs). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
brakes, a roof rack or a high-performance
battery, are not included in the curb weight
and the weight of the accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
A unique identification number which can be
used by a tire manufacturer to identify tires,
for example for a product recall, and thus
identify the purchasers. The TIN is composed of the manufacturer identification code, tire
size, tire model code and manufacturing date.
Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a
code that contains the maximum load bearing capacity of a tire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface. 304
What you should know about wheels and tiresWheels and tires