Winter operation 223 Observe the following if the vehicle has to be parked outdoors at extremely low tempera- tures: tions, consult a qualified specialist work- shop. X Interrupt the voltage supply with the bat- tery isolator switch ( Y page 90). ! Mercedes-Benz recommends fitting snow chains on all wheels on the front and rear axles. If, contrary to Mercedes-Benz recommen- dations, snow chains are not fitted on all axles, at least the interaxle lock must be engaged on vehicles with permanent all- wheel drive. There is otherwise a high risk of damaging the interaxle differential.
If, contrary to Mercedes-Benz recommen- dations, snow chains are fitted diagonally, there is a high risk of damaging the differ- ential. Repeated and sustained spinning of the wheels may cause damage to the dif- ferentials. X If necessary, ensure adequate vehicle light- ing by using an external lighting system (e.g. warning lamps). X Make sure that the fuel tank and the AdBlue ® reservoir are filled above the reserve level. i It may be necessary to ventilate the fuel system after long periods out of use if the fuel level is too low ( Y page 322). Driving mode X For longer periods out of use: charge the batteries every two days.
or X Remove the batteries and store at a tem- perature above 0 †. There may be slight deviations from the descriptions in these Operating Instructions regarding the use of snow chains, due to legal requirements in individual countries. Observe the legal requirements in all countries con- cerned. When fitting snow chains, observe the fitting instructions of the chain manufacturer. Snow chains Important safety notes Snow chains increase traction in wintry con- ditions. German law requires that snow chains be removed as soon as possible once the road is clear of snow.
The vehicle's driving and brak- ing characteristics will be adversely affected if you drive on roads that are clear of snow with snow chains fitted to the vehicle. Checking the tyre clearance ! If the clearance between the snow chain and steering linkage is less than 25 mm, the snow chain could damage the steering link- age. In this case, remove the snow chains again. Have the steering geometry checked at a qualified specialist workshop. G WARNING If you drive too fast with snow chains fitted, they may snap. As a result, you could injure others and damage the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident. Observe the maximum permissible speed for operation with snow chains.
Observe the following when fitting snow chains to the front axle: X Apply the parking brake. X Fit snow chains in accordance with the fit- ting instructions of the snow chain manu- facturer. ! Only use snow chains that have been approved and recommended for Mercedes- Benz. This will prevent you from causing damage to the vehicle. If you have ques- X Start the engine. Z