Mercedes-Benz GLA 180 Owner's Manual page 177

Driving tips
174
Observe the following notes:
Stop the vehicle before driving off-road. If
R
necessary, activate the off-road program
( page 151).
Y
To avoid damaging the vehicle, make sure
R
there is always sufficient ground clearance.
Make sure that items of luggage and loads are
R
stowed safely and are well secured
( page 293).
Y
Always keep the engine running and in gear
R
when driving on a downhill gradient. Activate
DSR ( page 190).
Y
Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at walk-
R
ing pace.
Ensure that the wheels are in contact with the
R
ground at all times.
Drive with extreme care on unknown off-road
R
routes where visibility is poor. For safety rea-
sons, get out of the vehicle first and survey
the off-road route.
Check the depth of water before fording rivers
R
and streams.
Watch out for obstacles.
R
Take care when turning on an uphill or down-
R
hill slope or when driving across a slope. The
vehicle could otherwise tip over.
Always keep the side windows and the pano-
R
rama sliding sunroof closed during the jour-
ney.
Do not deviate from marked routes.
R
Do not use the HOLD function when driving
R
off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gradients
or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD
function cannot hold the vehicle on such sur-
faces.
Checklist before off-road driving
Engine oil level: check the engine oil and top
X
it up if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the oil level
must be sufficiently high to ensure a correct
oil supply in the vehicle.
Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
X
depth and tyre pressure.
Check for damage and remove any foreign
X
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tyres.
Replace any missing valve caps.
X
Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X
Wheels: dented or bent wheels can lead to a
X
loss of tyre pressure and damage to the tyre
bead. Before driving off-road, check the
wheels and replace them if necessary.
Checklist after off-road driving
!
If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Deactivate the off-road program
X
( page 151).
Y
Deactivate DSR ( page 190).
X
Y
Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
X
check for damage.
Clean the front and rear licence plates.
X
Clean the wheels and tyres with a water jet
X
and remove any foreign objects.
Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the vehi-
X
cle underside with a water jet; check for any
foreign objects and damage.
Check whether twigs or other parts of plants
X
have become trapped. These increase the risk
of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake
hoses or the air bellows of the axle joints and
propeller shafts.
After the trip, examine without fail the entire
X
undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes, body-
work structure, steering, chassis and exhaust
system for damage.
After driving in sand, mud, gravel, water or
X
similar dirty conditions, have the following
checked and cleaned:
brake discs
R
wheels
R
brake pads
R
axle joints
R
If you detect strong vibrations after driving
X
off-road, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.
Driving over poor road surfaces places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on normal
roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle.
This allows you to detect damage promptly and
reduce the risk of an accident to yourself and
other road users.