Mercedes-Benz 2013 M Class - Manual (Page 193)

: ;
Vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD
package
Highway level 22° 22°
Off-road level 1 25° 24°
Off-road level 2 28° 27°
Off-road level 3 29° 29°
R
Observe the rules on off-road driving.
R
Do not drive at an angle on slopes, inclines
or gradients, but instead follow the direct
line of fall. The maximum gradient-climbing
capability of your vehicle is 100%, which
corresponds to an approach/departure
angle of 45°. Note that the climbing ability
of your vehicle depends on the terrain
conditions.
R
Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range
1.
R
Drive slowly.
R
Avoid high engine speeds – drive at an
appropriate engine speed (maximum
3,000 rpm).
R
When driving down an incline, make use of
the engine's braking effect. Observe the
engine speed; do not overrev the engine.
R
Check the brakes after prolonged off-road
driving.
i Hill start assist will aid you when pulling
away on a hill.
For more information, see "Hill start assist"
(
Y page 161).
Do not switch to transmission position N
when driving off-road. If you try to brake the
vehicle using the service brake, you could
lose control of the vehicle. If the gradient is
too steep for your vehicle, drive back down in
reverse gear.
Maximum gradient-climbing capability
On good road surfaces the maximum
gradient-climbing capability of your vehicle is
100%, which corresponds to an approach/
departure angle of 45°. Note that the
vehicle's gradient-climbing capability
depends on the off-road conditions.
Accelerate carefully and make sure that the
wheels do not spin when driving on steep
terrain.
i If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS recognizes this and brakes the
wheels accordingly. The rear wheel torque
is increased, making it easier to drive off.
Hilltops
When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator
immediately before reaching the brow of the
hill. Use the vehicle's own impetus to drive
over the top of the hill.
This style of driving prevents:
R
the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
R
the vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill
R
Drive slowly.
R
Do not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight.
Otherwise, the vehicle could slip sideways,
tip and rollover.
R
Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range
1.
R
Activate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake
gently. When doing so, make sure that the
vehicle is facing in the direction of the line
of fall.
R
Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
Driving tips
191
Driving and parking
Z