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On long, steep gradients, reduce your
●
speed and change to a lower gear (manual
gearbox) or move the selector lever to a lower
gear position (automatic gearbox). This uses
the force of the engine and the brakes do not
suffer as much. If you still have to brake, do
so intermittently, pressing down repeatedly
on the brake pedal.
●
Vehicle modifications (e.g. to the engine,
brakes, frame or a combination of wheels and
tyres) could impair the brake assist systems
›››
page 122, Accessories and modifications
to the
vehicle.
●
In the event of a fault in the ABS system,
the ESC, TCS and EDL are switched off auto-
matically. A fault in the ABS is indicated by
›››
the
page 36
warning lamp.
Brakes
Wear
The rate of wear of the brake pads depends
on the driving style and on the way in which
the vehicle is used. The brake pads will wear
more quickly if you use your vehicle frequent-
ly in urban traffic and short trips or drive in a
sporty style. Under these demanding condi-
tions, visit your specialised service, even be-
fore the scheduled service date, so that the
thickness of the brake pads can be meas-
ured.
Driving
Wet roads or road salt
If brakes are wet or frozen, or if you are driv-
ing on roads which have been gritted with
salt, braking power may set in later than nor-
mal. Dry the brakes as soon as possible by
braking repeatedly.
Corrosion
Long periods of inactivity and little use can
lead to rust on the brake discs and dirt on the
brake pads. Where the brake system is sub-
jected to light stress or in the case of corro-
sion, clean the brake discs by braking fully
several times at a high speed.
Brake system fault
If you notice that the braking distance sud-
denly increases and the brake pedal can be
pressed down more fully, there may be a fault
in the brake system. Visit a specialised serv-
ice immediately and adjust your driving style
to the extent of the damage and to limit the
effect of the brakes.
Low brake fluid level
Insufficient brake fluid could cause faults in
the brake system. The brake fluid level is con-
›››
trolled electronically
page 33, Brake sys-
tem
.
Brake servo
The brake servo supplements the pressure
you exert on the brake pedal. The brake servo
only works when the engine is running.
Handbrake
Fig. 90
Centre console: handbrake.
Applying the handbrake
Pull the handbrake lever up all the way.
–
Releasing the handbrake
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and
–
press the unlock button at the same time
›››
Fig.
90.
Keep the button pressed down and push
–
the lever all the way down.
The warning lamp lights up when the hand-
brake is applied with the ignition on .
99
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