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Rules for off-road driving
Always be aware of the ground clearance of the
vehicle and avoid obstacles such as deep tire
ruts.
Obstacles can damage the following parts of the
vehicle, for example:
Suspension
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Drivetrain
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Fuel and supply tanks
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Therefore, always drive slowly when off-road. If
you must drive over obstacles, have the co-driver
instruct you.
%
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you addi‐
tionally carry a shovel and a recovery rope
with a shackle in the vehicle.
Make sure that loads and items of luggage
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are securely stored or lashed down
(
page 73).
/
Before driving off-road, stop the vehicle and
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engage a low gear.
Vehicles with DSR: activate DSR when you
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are driving downhill (
All-wheel drive vehicles: activate the all-
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wheel drive (
page 120) and, if necessary,
/
activate the LOW RANGE transmission ratio
(
page 120).
/
If the surface requires, temporarily deactivate
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ASR when pulling away (
Only drive off-road with the engine running
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and a gear engaged.
Drive slowly and smoothly. Walking pace is
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necessary in many situations.
Avoid spinning the driven wheels.
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Always ensure that the wheels remain in con‐
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tact with the ground.
Exercise the utmost caution when driving
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across unfamiliar, unpredictable terrain. As a
precaution, get out of the vehicle to take a
look at the route to be taken first.
Look out for obstacles (e.g. rocks, holes, tree
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stumps and tire ruts).
Avoid edges where the surface could crumble
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or break away.
Rules for fording off-road (all-wheel drive
vehicles)
Observe the safety notes and general notes
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on driving off-road.
page 121).
/
page 120).
/
Check the depth and characteristics of the
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body of water before fording. The water must
not be deeper than 23.6 in (60 cm).
The climate control system is switched off
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(
page 96).
/
The auxiliary heating is switched off
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(
page 101).
/
Switch on all-wheel drive (
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engage it on vehicles with the LOW RANGE
transmission ratio (
Restrict the shift range to 1 or 2.
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Avoid high engine speeds.
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Drive slowly and smoothly at no more than a
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walking pace.
Ensure that no bow wave forms while driving.
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After fording, dry the brakes.
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After driving through a body of water deeper than
19.7 in (50 cm), make sure to check all vehicle
fluids for any signs of penetration by water.
Checklist after driving off-road
If you find damage to the vehicle after off-road
driving, have the vehicle checked at a qualified
specialist workshop immediately.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than normal road opera‐
tion. Check your vehicle after driving on rough
terrain. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident for
yourself and other road users. Clean your vehicle
thoroughly before driving on public roads.
Observe the following points after driving off-
road, on construction sites and before driving on
public roads:
Vehicles with DSR: deactivate DSR
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(
page 121).
/
All-wheel drive vehicles: deactivate the all-
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wheel drive (
page 120).
/
Activate ASR (
page 120).
/
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Clean the exterior lighting, particularly the
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headlamps and tail lamps, and check them
for damage.
Clean the front and rear license plates.
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Clean the windshield, windows and outside
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mirrors.
Clean the steps, entrances and grab handles.
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This increases the safety of your footing.
Clean the wheels and tires, wheel wells and
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the underbody of the vehicle with a water jet.
Driving and parking 113
page 119) and
/
page 120).
/
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