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204Driving instructions
Technical
data
Instruments
and controls
Operation Driving
Instrument
cluster display
Practical hints Car care Index
Driving on embankments, slopes and other steep
inclines should only be done straight up or downhill, i.e.
in the line of gravity.
Do not drive along the side of a slope (danger of vehicle
rollover). If in doing so, the vehicle begins to show a
tendency to roll, immediately steer into a line of gravity
(straight up or downhill).
To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never turn it
around on steep inclines. If the vehicle cannot complete
the attempted climb, back it down in reverse gear.
Utilize the engine’s braking power when descending a
slope, observe the engine speed (do not overrev the
engine). Apply the service brake as needed.
Check the brakes after a lengthy downgrade drive.
Notes:
Avoid excessive engine speeds – drive with moderate
engine speeds (max. 3000 RPM).
Select gear range “2” or “1” on the automatic
transmission, see page 183.
Traction in steep terrain:
Be easy on the accelerator and watch for continuous
wheel traction when driving in steep terrain.
The 4-ETS+ helps greatly when starting out on a steep
incline when the front wheels have then the tendency to
slip due to the weight shifting away the front axle.
The 4-ETS+ recognizes the situation and limits the
torque for the front wheels by braking them.
Simultaneously the torque for the rear wheels is
increased.
See page 221 for four wheel electronic traction system
(4-ETS+).
Driving across a hilltop:
To prevent the vehicle from speeding up too much after
climbing a hill, decelerate just ahead of a hilltop (do not
select gear range “N”). Use the momentum of the
vehicle to drive across the hilltop. Driving in this
manner prevents the vehicle from jumping across the
hilltop and thus loosing its forward momentum.