2008 Mercedes R-Class Owner's Manual - Page 343

Operation Driving instructions ! When driving down long and steep grades, relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a lower gear to use the engine's braking power. This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and reduces brake pad wear. When using the engine's braking power, a drive wheel may not spin for an extended period of time, e.g. on slippery road surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Parking brake When driving on wet roads or dirt covered surfaces, road salt and/or dirt can get into the parking brake. To prevent corrosion and a reduction in the braking power of the parking brake, observe the following: From time to time, lightly engage the parking brake before driving off. Drive a distance of approximately 110 yds (100 m) at a maximum speed of 12 mph (20 km/h) Warning! Driving off Apply the brakes to test them briefly after driving off. Perform this procedure only when the road is clear of other traffic. Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not place full load on the engine until the operating temperature has been reached. ! When driving off on a slippery surface, do not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended period with the ESP® switched off. Doing so may cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. After hard braking, it is advisable to drive on for some time, rather than immediately park, so that the air stream will cool down the brakes faster. G While performing this procedure, please assure that the vehicle is stopped before applying the parking brake. Otherwise the rear wheels could lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. In addition, the vehicle's brake lights do not light up when the parking brake is engaged. Make sure not to endanger any other road users when you engage the parking brake. ! Simultaneously depressing the accelerator pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine performance and causes premature brake and drivetrain wear. 342