2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S430 towing

372 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
!
To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the drive train, however, we
recommend the drive shaft be discon-
nected at the rear axle drive flange (ve-
hicles with 4MATIC: disconnected at
the front and rear axle drive flanges) for
any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.iThe gear 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 366)
or on jump starting (
page 369).
iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use, turn
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate the combina-
tion switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.

373 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
1Cover on right side of front bumper
2Cover on right side of rear bumperRemoving 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 344).

Screw towing eye bolt clockwise into
its stop and tighten with wheel wrench.
Removing 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.
!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 in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approximately
9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 85).
To prevent the vehicle doors from lock-
ing, deactivate the automatic central
locking (
page 106).
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.

418 IndexInside rear view mirror
Antiglare 174
Installing
Infant and child restraint systems 72
Towing eye bolt 373
Wiper blades 360
Instrument cluster 22, 131, 403
Cleaning 301
Coolant temperature gauge 132
Illumination 131
Multifunction display 134
Outside temperature indicator 133
Selecting language 155
Integrated remote control
Canadian programming 254
Erasing memory 255
Hand-held transmitter 252
Operating 255
Rolling code programming 253
Interior illumination
Delayed switch-off 158Interior lighting 129
Activating automatic control 129
Deactivating automatic control 130
Manual operation 130
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 38
J
Jump starting 369
K
Key see SmartKey 30, 53
Key, mechanical 348
Key, SmartKey
Positions in starter switch 31
Key, SmartKey, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*
Replacing the battery 349
Key-dependency memory
Settings 160
KEYLESS-GO* 403
Activating ignition with 33
Closing power windows 198
Closing sliding/pop-up roof 202Locking the vehicle 95
Loss of SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO 96
Messages in display 328
Starting the engine 44
Turning off engine 54
Kickdown 170, 403
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 154
Km/h or mph in speedometer 154
L
Lamp bulbs, exterior 353
Lamps, exterior
Front 353
Light sensor 331
Messages in display 331
Rear 354
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 304
Airbag Off 63
Battery (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 94
Battery (SmartKey) 89
Brakes 305

423 Index
Phone number*
Dialing 145
Redialing 146
Plastic and rubber parts
Cleaning 302
Poly-V-belt drive 404
Positions (Memory function)
Recalling from memory 122
Positions (Memory function*)
Storing into memory 122
Power assistance 259
Power seat
Adjusting backrest tilt 35
Adjusting head restraint height 36
Adjusting head restraint tilt 36
Adjusting seat cushion depth 35
Adjusting seat cushion tilt 35
Adjusting seat height 35
Front seat head restraints 109
Seat fore and aft adjustment 35
Power seat bench* 118
Power train 404
Power washer 297Power windows 195
Blocking of rear window operation 74
Closing with KEYLESS-GO* 198
Side windows 195
Synchronizing 198
Practical hints
First aid kit 344
Fuses 374
Lamp in center console 311
Lamps in instrument cluster 304
Messages in the display 312
Towing the vehicle 371
Vehicle tool kit 344
PRE-SAFE see Preventive occupant
safety 68
Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE) 68
Problems
While driving 50
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Program mode selector switch 404
Automatic transmission 170
PULSE function (Massage function) 113Q
Quick search
Phone book* 146
R
Radio
Selecting satellite radio*
stations 140
Selecting stations 140
Radio transmitters, control and
operation 266
Range (distance to empty)
Calling up 150
Rear fog lamp 354
Bulb 354
Switching on 127
Rear lamp bulbs
Replacing 358
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
Rear passenger compartment
Adjustable air vents 192
Rear seat head restraints
Folding back with switch 110
Placing upright 110
Rear seats 110

430 IndexTow-away alarm 85
Arming 85
Disarming 85
Disarming for transport 85
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 345
Installing 373
Towing the vehicle 371
Tracking services
For stolen vehicle 250
Traction 170, 406
Transmission see Automatic
transmission 278
Tread depth (tires) 292
Trip computer 148
Trip odometer
Resetting 132
Trunk
Auxiliary fuse box 374
Closing from the inside 100
Lock button, KEYLESS-GO* 95
Locking separately 105
Message in display 334
Opening 97
Opening from inside vehicle 97
Opening from the inside 99Parcel net 238
Tie-down hooks 230
Trunk lid 97, 99, 100
Trunk lock 349
Unlocking in an emergency 349
Unlocking separately 105, 106
Unlocking with SmartKey 90
Trunk lid
Closing 98
Trunk lid emergency release 104
Trunk lid opening/closing system* 99
Turn signal lamps
Replacing bulbs 353, 354
Turn signals 47
Additional in mirrors 353
Cleaning lenses 298
Front bulbs 353, 356
Rear bulbs 354, 358
Turning off
Engine 53
Turning off the engine 54U
Units
Setting speedometer units 154
Setting temperature units 154
Unlocking 30, 88
Driver’s door in an emergency 348
Fuel filler flap 269
Global 89
Global (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 94
Glove box 231
In an emergency 348
Selective settings 89, 94
Trunk in an emergency 349
Trunk lid with SmartKey 90
Trunk lid, separately 105, 106
Vehicle in an emergency 249
With the SmartKey 30
With the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 32, 91
Upgrade signals
Tele Aid* 248
Uphill driving
Cruise control 204

431 Index
Upholstery
Cleaning 302
Upshifting 165, 169, 172
Useful features 231
Ashtrays 238
Cigarette lighter 239
Garage door opener 250
Heated steering wheel* 240
Storage compartments 231
Tele Aid* 242
Telephone* 241
V
Vehicle
Individual settings 151, 153
Locking in an emergency 349
Lowering 365
Service battery 366
Towing 371
Unlocking in an emergency 348
Vehicle battery 366
Vehicle care 296
Cup holder 301
Distronic* system sensor cover 299
Engine cleaning 298Gear selector lever 301
Hard plastic trim items 301
Headlamps 298
Instrument cluster 301
Leather upholstery 302
Light alloy wheels 301
Nubuck leather upholstery 302
Ornamental moldings 298
Paintwork 297
Parktronic* system sensor 299
Plastic and rubber parts 302
Power washer 297
Seat belts 301
Side markers 298
Steering wheel 301
Tail lamps 298
Tar stains 297
Turn signals 298
Upholstery 302
Vehicle washing 298
Window cleaning 300
Wiper blades 299
Wood trims 302Vehicle level 219, 221
Changing 219, 222
Setting 219, 222
Automatic 219, 222
Manual 219, 222
Vehicle lighting
Checking 271
Vehicle submenu
Limiting opening height of trunk
lid*(Control system) 159
Vehicle tool kit 344, 345
Alignment bolt 345
Fuse chart 345
Fuse extractor 345
Gloves 345
Screwdriver 345
Spare fuses 345
Wheel wrench 345
Vehicle washing 298
Ventilated storage compartment 192
Ventilation
Storage compartment 192
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) 406
Voice control system* 406
Hands-free microphone 27