Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2011 Owners Manual - Manual (Page 166)

For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or
in conditions in which hydroplaning can occur
you must drive in the following manner:
R
Lower your speed
R Avoid ruts
R Brake carefully
Driving on flooded roads
!
Do not drive through flooded areas.
Check the depth of any water before driving
through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water may enter the
vehicle interior or the engine compartment.
This can damage the electronic
components in the engine or the automatic
transmission. Water can also be drawn in
by the engine's air suction nozzles and this
can cause engine damage.
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
set the raised vehicle level before driving
through standing water.
Off-road fording
:
Fording depth
Fording
depth
Steel-spring vehicles 20 in.
(50 cm)
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC
package
Raised level 20 in.
(50 cm)
R Establish how deep the water is and the
characteristics of the body of water before
fording.
R
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select the highest possible vehicle level.
R
Select the off-road drive program
(
Y page 193).
R
Restrict the shift range to 1 or 2.
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R
Enter and exit the water at a flat place and
at a steady walking pace.
! Under no circumstances should you
accelerate before entering the water. The
bow wave could cause water to enter and
damage the engine and other assemblies.
R
Drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water.
R Do not stop.
! Do not open any of the vehicle's doors
while fording. Otherwise, water could get
into the vehicle interior and damage the
vehicle's electronics and interior
equipment.
R Water offers a high degree of resistance,
and the ground is slippery and in some
cases unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and
dangerous to pull away in the water.
R Ensure that a bow wave does not form as
you drive.
R
Clean any mud from the tire tread after
fording.
R Apply the brakes to dry them after fording.
Winter driving
Important safety guidelines
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, at the onset of
winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (
Y page 166).
164
Driving tips
Driving and parking
BA 164.1 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 2, en-US
d2mskot
Version: 3.0.3.5
2010-04-21T17:25:06+02:00 - Seite 164