Two-axle ride height control

Operating principle: The two-axle ride height control system not only compensates for front and rear body sag under load, but also allows the ground clearance, i.e. the height of the body above the road, to be deliberately reduced or increased.

There are three ground clearance settings:

► Normal: Standard ground clearance suitable for most situations and for towing a trailer
► Raised: Increased ground clearance for improved off-road capability
► Lowered: This height is intended for getting in/out and for loading/unloading luggage.

Ground clearance can be changed by pressing the button, see page 101, or by exceeding a certain driving speed. If the height change was started with the button, you can select another height setting before the adjustment is complete. To do so, press the corresponding button again.

On a stationary vehicle, the ground clearance can be lowered and raised only with the doors closed. The luggage compartment lid may be open. Raising the ground clearance is only possible with the engine running.

Compensation for body sag under load takes place automatically.

Repeatedly changing the ride height in succession may cause the compressor to overheat and the system to temporarily become inoperative.

Ride height indicator

1 Raised ground clearance
2 Normal ground clearance
3 Lowered ground clearance

The LEDs show the currently set ground clearance and indicate changes to it:

► The illuminated LED shows the current ground clearance.

► When the ground clearance is changed by pressing the button or by exceeding a certain speed, the LED for the current setting lights continuously while the LED for the selected setting flashes. After the adjustment is complete, the flashing LED of the new setting changes to continuous illumination, while the LED for the previous setting goes out.

► If the LED for the current ground clearance flashes for 3 seconds after pressing the adjustment button, a change of ground clearance is not possible at this time.

Raising the body

Raising the ground clearance is only possible with the engine running.

Normal ground clearance –

► raised ground clearance:

At speeds below 50 km/h, press button 1.

Lowered ground clearance –

► normal ground clearance:

► press button 1, or
► exceed the speed of 35 km/h.

Lowering the body Ground clearance can be reduced only with the ignition key in position 2.

Normal ground clearance –

► lowered ground clearance:

1. At speeds below 80 km/h, press button 2.

The system enters standby mode, which can be exited by

► pressing button 1;
► exceeding the speed of 80 km/h or waiting 60 seconds.

2. Within 60 seconds of entering standby mode, reduce speed to below 25 km/h.

If button 2 is pressed at speeds below 25 km/h, the ground clearance is reduced immediately.

Raised ground clearance –

► normal ground clearance:
► Press button 2, or
► exceed the speed of 50 km/h.

Towing a trailer: When towing a trailer, select normal ride height and avoid changing it.

At normal ride height, the system recognizes a trailer by the connection of its electrical system and does not allow the ground clearance to be changed.

If a trailer was attached while the vehicle was at raised or lowered ride height, normal height can be restored by pressing the control system button or by reaching the speed at which the vehicle automatically returns to normal height. Once the body has returned to normal height, its height above the road no longer changes.