Checklist after driving off-road
WARNING
If you notice sudden significant vibrations or
unusual handling performance or if you
suspect that damage has occurred to the
vehicle, you should activate the hazard
warning lamps, gently reduce speed and
carefully head for an area that is located at a
safe distance from the road.
Check the tires and the underside of the
vehicle for damage. If the vehicle seems
unsafe, have the vehicle towed away to the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center or tire dealer
to be repaired.
If you detect damage to the vehicle after driving off-road, have the vehicle checked immediately at a qualified specialist workshop.
Driving over rough terrain 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.
– Deactivate DSR.
– Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
lower the vehicle to a ride height suitable
for the road conditions, e.g. to the
highway/high-speed level.
– Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
– Clean the front and rear license plates.
– Clean the wheels/tires with a water jet and
remove any foreign objects.
– Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check
for any foreign objects and damage.
– Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber
bellows of the axle joints and propeller
shafts.
– After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage.
– After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads/linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
– If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.
See also:
General notes
The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
- when pulling away, especially on steep slopes
- when maneuvering on steep slopes
- when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is k ...
Preparing the vehicle
WARNING
The wheel and tire size of the emergency
spare wheel/spare wheel may differ to that of
the damaged wheel. When using an
emergency spare wheel/spare wheel the
handling characteristics ...
Activating/deactivating
Turn the SmartKey to position 2
in the ignition lock.
To switch on: press the
button. The indicator lamp in the
button lights up. Airflow and air
distribution are set to automatic mode.
or ...