2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS towing

351 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
1Cover on right side of front bumper2Cover on right side of rear bumper
Removing cover

Press mark on cover in direction of ar-
row.

Lift cover off to reveal threaded hole for
towing eye bolt.
Installing towing eye bolt

Take towing eye bolt and wheel wrench
out of trunk (
page 322).

Screw towing eye bolt clockwise into
its stop and tighten with wheel wrench.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (if so equipped) in
position2, the vehicle doors lock if the
left front wheel as well as the right rear
wheel are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 84).
To prevent the vehicle doors from lock-
ing, deactivate the automatic central
locking (
page 102).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to vehicle chassis,
frame or suspension parts.
iThe selector lever will remain locked in
positionP and the SmartKey will not
turn in the starter switch if the battery
is disconnected or discharged. See
notes on the battery (
page 344) or
on jump starting (
page 347).

352 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleRemoving towing eye bolt
Loosen towing eye bolt counterclock-
wise with wheel wrench.

Unscrew towing eye bolt.

Store towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench in trunk.
Installing cover

Fit cover and snap into place.

396 IndexH
Hand-held transmitter
Programming integrated remote con-
trol 246
Hands-free microphone 27
Hard plastic trim items
Cleaning 287
Hazard warning flasher 124
Switching off 124
Switching on 124
Head restraint folding 114
Head restraints 105
Headlamp cleaning system* 271
Headlamps
Automatic control 121
Bi-Xenon 381
Cleaning 284
Cleaning system* 171, 271
Refilling washer fluid 271
Switching off 51
Switching on 46
Headliner
Cleaning 287
Heated steering wheel* 235
Height adjustment
Head restraints 37Steering wheel 37
Height adjustments
Vehicle level 212, 215
High beam
Replacing bulbs 331
High beam flasher 46, 123
High beam headlamps
Messages in display 313
Switching on 123
High mounted brake lamp 332
Hood 263
Closing 264
Message in display 311
Opening 263
Hydroplaning 255
I
Identification labels 360
Ignition 31, 33
Switching on 43
Immobilizer 82
Activating 82
Deactivating 82
Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Individual seats* 114Infant and child restraint systems 67
Installing 71
LATCH child seat anchors 72
Information
About service and warranty 10
Button for Tele Aid* 242
Infrared reflecting windshield 248
Inside rear view mirror
Adjusting 38
Antiglare 168
Installing
Infant and child restraint systems 71
Towing eye bolt 351
Wiper blades 338
Instrument cluster 22, 127, 383
Cleaning 287
Coolant temperature gauge 128
Illumination 127
Multifunction display 130
Outside temperature indicator 129
Selecting language 150
Integrated remote control
Canadian programming 247
Erasing memory 247
Hand-held transmitter 246
Operating 247

401 Index
Releasing 44
Warning sound 45
Parking lamps
Replacing bulbs 332, 335
Switching on 120
Parking position
Exterior rear view mirrors 118, 158,
169
Parktronic 218
Parktronic* 384
Sensor 285
Passenger compartment 258
Fuse box in 353
Inside rear view mirror 38
Interior lighting 124
Parcel net in front passenger footwell
232
Passenger safety see Occupant safety 56
Passenger seat fore and aft adjustment
116
Passenger seat head restraint height 116
Passenger seat height 116
Pedals 251
Phone book*
Loading 140
Quick search 141Phone number*
Dialing 140
Redialing 141
Plastic and rubber parts
Cleaning 287
Pliers, universal (vehicle tool kit) 323
Poly-V-belt drive 384
Positions (Memory function)
Recalling from memory 118
Positions (Memory function*)
Storing into memory 118
Power assistance 251
Power seat
Adjusting backrest tilt 36
Adjusting head restraint height 37
Adjusting head restraint tilt 37
Adjusting seat cushion depth 36
Adjusting seat cushion tilt 36
Adjusting seat height 36
Front seat head restraints 105
Seat fore and aft adjustment 36
Power seat bench* 113
Power train 384
Power washer 283
Power windows 188
Blocking of rear window operation 74Side windows 188
Synchronizing 191
Practical hints
First aid kit 322
Fuses 353
Lamp in center console 295
Lamps in instrument cluster 290
Messages in the display 296
Towing the vehicle 349
Vehicle tool kit 322
PRE-SAFE see Preventive occupant safety
66
Preventive occupant safety (PRE-SAFE) 66
Problems
While driving 48
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Program mode selector switch 384
Automatic transmission 164
PULSE function (Massage function) 109
Q
Quick search
Phone book* 141
R
Radio

407 Index
Upgrade signals 243
TeleAid
Messages in display 320
Telematics* 385
Telephone* 236
Answering a call 140
Dialing a number from the phone book
140
Ending a call 140
Hands-free microphone 27
Loading phone book* 140
Messages in display 321
Operating 139
Redialing 141
Temperature
Display mode 149
Setting interior temperature 177
Setting units in display 149
Tires 274
Tie-down hooks (Trunk) 223
Tightening torque 385
Tightening torque (Wheel bolts) 342
Time
Setting digital clock 23
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 262, 273Tire speed rating 255, 385
Tire traction 255
Tires 272, 378
Direction of rotation 273
Driving instructions 254
Messages in display 318
Retreads 272
Service life 273
Temperature 274
Tread depth 278
Wear pattern 277
Winter 278
Tools 322
Tow-away alarm 84
Arming 84
Disarming 84
Disarming for transport 84
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 323
Installing 351
Towing the vehicle 349
Tracking services
For stolen vehicle 244
Traction 164, 385
Transmission see Automatic transmission
268
Tread depth (tires) 278Trip computer 143
Trip odometer
Resetting 128
Trunk
Auxiliary fuse box 353
Closing 97
Closing from the inside 99
Lock button, KEYLESS-GO* 93
Locking separately 98
Message in display 321
Opening 95
Opening from inside vehicle 96
Opening from the inside 99
Parcel net 232
Tie-down hooks 223
Trunk lid 95, 99
Trunk lock 327
Unlocking in an emergency 327
Unlocking separately 98, 102
Unlocking with SmartKey 89, 94
Trunk lid emergency release 96
Trunk lid opening/closing system* 99
Turn signal lamps
Replacing bulbs 331, 332

408 IndexTurn signals 46
Additional in mirrors 331
Cleaning lenses 284
Front bulbs 331, 334
Rear bulbs 332, 336
Turning off
Engine 52
Turning off the engine 53
U
Units
Setting speedometer units 149
Setting temperature units 149
Unlocking 30, 86
Driver’s door in an emergency 326
Fuel filler flap 261
Global 87
Global (KEYLESS-GO* card) 91
In an emergency 326
Selective settings 87
Trunk in an emergency 327
Trunk lid with SmartKey 89, 94
Trunk lid, separately 98, 102
Vehicle in an emergency 244
With KEYLESS-GO* 32
With the KEYLESS-GO* card 89
With the SmartKey 30Upgrade signals
Tele Aid* 243
Uphill driving
Cruise control 197
Upshifting 161, 166
Useful features 224
Ashtrays 232
Cigarette lighter 233
Garage door opener 245
Heated steering wheel* 235
Interior storage spaces 224
Tele Aid* 237
Telephone* 236
V
Vehicle
Individual settings 146, 148
Locking in an emergency 327
Lowering 342
Proper use of 16
Service battery 344
Towing 349
Unlocking in an emergency 326
Vehicle battery 344
Vehicle care 282
Cup holder 287
Distronic* system sensor cover 285Engine cleaning 284
Gear selector lever 287
Hard plastic trim items 287
Headlamps 284
Instrument cluster 287
Leather upholstery 287
Light alloy wheels 286
Ornamental moldings 284
Paintwork 283
Parktronic* system sensor 285
Plastic and rubber parts 287
Power washer 283
Seat belts 287
Steering wheel 287
Tail lamps 284
Tar stains 283
Turn signals 284
Vehicle washing 284
Window cleaning 286
Wiper blades 286
Vehicle level 212, 215
Changing 213, 216
Setting 213, 216
Automatic 213, 216
Manual 213, 216
Vehicle lighting