2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 towing

455 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
3Securing hook
Release securing hook 3 (located be-
low the floor handle) from holder.3Securing hook
4Cargo compartment floor, raised
5Upper cargo compartment lip

Engage securing hook 3 on upper
cargo compartment lip 5.You can now access the vehicle tool kit. To
remove the vehicle tool kit storage well
casing, proceed as described on
(
page 458).
6Wheel bolt wrench
7Electric air pump
8Jack
9Spare fuses, fuse extractor, fuse chart
aSpare wheel (collapsible tire)
bAlignment bolt
cTowing eye bolt
dCollapsible wheel chock
eSpare wheel bolts
fVehicle tool kit storage well casing

To remove jackb, loosen the hook
and loop fastener.
!With the cargo compartment cover
blind* installed behind the third-row
seats (
page 288), disengage cargo
compartment cover blind* and flip it
forward. Otherwise the strap of the
securing hook could damage the cargo
compartment cover blind*.

499 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the
vehicle may be towed with all wheels on
the ground only so far as necessary to have
the vehicle moved to a safe location where
the recommended towing methods can be
employed.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment, with the SmartKey in starter
switch turned to position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts. Use the towing eyes.
Switch off the ESP
® (page 101),
tow-away alarm (
page 107) and the
automatic central locking
(
page 130).
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing
so could damage the transfer case,
which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground.
Observe instructions for towing the ve-
hicles with all wheels on the ground.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the automatic transmis-
sion must be in positionN and the
SmartKey must be in starter switch
position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the vehicle may be
towed only for distances up to 30 miles
(50 km) and at a speed not to exceed
30 mph (50 km / h).
If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised (observe instructions re-
garding flexible drive shaft), the engine
must be shut off (SmartKey in starter
switch position1). Otherwise, the
4-ETS may become engaged which may
cause loss of towing control.

500 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
!
To be certain to avoid additional dam-
age to the vehicle powertrain, however
you should observe the following:

With damage to the front axle

raise front axle


remove flexible drive shaft be-
tween rear axle and transfer
case


With damage to the rear axle

raise rear axle


tow vehicle with wheel lift or
dolly placed under front wheels


With damage to the transfer case

remove flexible drive shaft to
the drive axles
Always install new self-locking nuts
when reinstalling flexible drive shaft.
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
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical sys-
tem
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure 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,
remove SmartKey from starter switch and
reinsert.
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
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.iTo signal turns while being towed with
hazard warning flasher in use, turn the
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate combination
switch for left or right turn signal in
usual manner – only the selected turn
signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the
hazard warning flasher will operate
again.

501 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolts
The front towing eye is located behind a
cover on the passenger side below the
front bumper.
1Towing eye cover
iThe vehicle cannot be started via
tow-start.iIf the battery is disconnected or dis-
charged, the automatic transmission
will remain locked in positionP and the
SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch. For more information, see “Bat-
tery” (
page 487) and “Jump starting”
(
page 496).
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, note the following:
With the automatic central locking
activated and the ignition in position2
(page 38), the vehicle doors lock if
the left front wheel is turning at a speed
of approx. 9 mph (15 km / h) or above.
To prevent the vehicle doors from
locking, deactivate the automatic
central locking (
page 130).
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(
page 107).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the towing eye. Never
attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod
to vehicle chassis, frame or suspension
parts.

502 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleThe rear towing eye is located behind the
right side cover in the rear bumper panel.
1Towing eye cover

Press mark on cover1 as indicated by
the arrow.

Lift off cover1 to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.

Take the towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench from the vehicle toolkit
(page 455).

Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with wheel wrench.

After use, unscrew towing eye bolt.

Store the towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench back into the vehicle toolkit
(page 455).

Engage cover1 at top and press at
bottom.
Stranded vehicle
Freeing a stranded vehicle, on which the
wheels are dug into sand or mud, should
be done with the greatest of care, especial-
ly if the vehicle is heavily loaded.
Avoid pulling the vehicle abruptly or diago-
nally, since it could result in damage to the
chassis alignment.
Never try to free a vehicle that is still cou-
pled to a trailer.
If possible, a vehicle equipped with trailer
hitch receiver should be pulled backward
in its own previously made tracks.
Warning!
G
In order to avoid possible serious burns or
injury, use extreme caution when removing
the cover, because the rear exhaust pipe is
extremely hot.

542 IndexEngine malfunction indicator lamp 407,
433
Engine malfunction indicator lamp (Cana-
da only) 27
Engine malfunction indicator lamp (USA
only) 27
Engine number 530
Engine oil 346, 523
Adding 349
Additives 523
Checking level 346
Consumption 346
Display messages 437–438
Messages in display 347, 437–438
Viscosity 530
ESP
®
25, 99, 530
Switching off 101
Switching on 102
Warning lamp 409
ETD 530
Safety guidelines 74
ETD (Emergency tensioning device) 80
Extending cargo compartment 283
Exterior mirrors
Folding 211Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 48
Power folding* 211
Synchronizing 211
F
Fastening the seat belts 50
First aid kit 454
Flat tire 478
Lowering the vehicle 485
Preparing the vehicle 479
Spare wheel 457
Flexible Service System PLUS (FSS
PLUS) 530
Floormats* 328
Fluid level
Automatic transmission 350
Fog lamp, rear
Switching on 151
Fog lamps, front*
Messages in display 442
Replacing bulbs 466
Switching on 151
Folding
Exterior mirrors 2114-ETS 102
Front air bags 75
Front defroster 223, 238
Front fog lamps
Indicator lamp 147
Front lamps
Messages in display 442
Replacing bulbs 466, 468
Front seats
Head restraints 44
Front towing eye 501
Front wiper blades
Installing 476, 477
Removing 475
FSS PLUS (Flexible Service System
PLUS) 530
Fuel 343
Additives 525
Fuel reserve warning lamp 409
Gasoline additives 525
Premium unleaded gasoline 343,
524
Requirements 524
Fuel additives 525
Fuel cap
Message in display 439

550 IndexRear passenger compartment ventilation
and climate control
Deactivating 245
Rear passenger compartment ventilation
and rear automatic climate
control 244
Rear towing eye 502
Rear view mirror automatic antiglare 209
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window defroster 215
Activating 215
Deactivating 215
Rear window wiper switch 61
Rear window wiper/washer 61
Rear wiper blade
Removing 477
Replacing 476
Recommended inflation pressure 387
Recommended tire inflation
pressure 533
Reconnecting
Vehicle battery 489
Recovery services
For stolen vehicle 319
Refrigerant
Air conditioning 523Regular checks 343
Remote control
Integrated 110
SmartKey 110
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 115
Remote door unlock
With Tele Aid* 319
Removing
Front wiper blades 475
Rear wiper blade 477
Vehicle battery 489
Wheel 481
Removing spare wheel 458
Replacing
Backup lamp bulbs 472
Brake lamp bulbs 472
Bulbs 465
Front lamp bulbs 468
License plate lamp bulbs 474
Low beam bulbs 468
Rear fog lamp bulbs 472
Rear lamp bulbs 466, 472
Rear side marker lamp bulbs 472
Rear turn signal bulbs 472
Rear wiper blade 476
Wiper blades 475Replacing front fog lamp* bulb 471
Reporting
Safety defects 19
Reset button in the instrument
cluster 175, 176
Resetting
All functions of a submenu 176
Fuel consumption 193
Maintenance service indicator 394
Trip odometer 159
Residual heat 227
Residual heat utilization 243, 533
Residual heat* utilization 228
Residual ventilation 227, 243
REST (Residual engine heat
utilization) 533
Restraint system 533
Restraint system see Infant and child
restraint systems
Rim 387, 533
Rims and tires 514
Roadside assistance 12
Tele Aid* 315
Roller sunblinds 259
RON 343
RON (Research Octane Number) 533

555 Index
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 344, 363, 365
Tire inflation pressure see the placard on
the fuel filler flap
Tire inspection 354
Tire load rating 387, 534
Tire ply composition and material
used 388
Tire speed rating 336, 378, 388, 534
Tire terminology 385
Tire traction 335
Tires 353, 514
Direction of rotation 356
Driving instructions 334
Low tire pressure telltale 412
Retreads 353
Rims and tires 514
Rotating 388
Run Flat Indicator 366
Service life 354
Temperature 364, 384
TPMS malfunction telltale 412
Tread depth 355, 390
Wear pattern 389
Winter 390
Tools 454Tow-away alarm 106
Arming 106
Disarming 106
Disarming for transport 106
Towing eye
Front 501
Rear 502
Towing the vehicle
Stranded vehicle 502
TPMS malfunction telltale* 25
Traction 205, 388, 534
Transfer case 534
Tread 388, 534
Tread depth 355
Tread depth (tires) 390
Treadwear indicators 388, 534
Trip computer 192
Trip odometer
Resetting 159
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 399
Replacing bulbs 466
Turn signals 58
Turning off the engine 66
TWR (Tongue Weight Rating) 534U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 388, 534
Units
Setting speedometer units 178
Unlocking 36, 110
Centrally from inside 131
Driver’s door in an emergency 459
Fuel filler flap 342
Global 112
Global (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 118
In an emergency 459
Selective settings 112, 118
Tailgate with SmartKey 114
Vehicle in an emergency 319
With the SmartKey 36
With the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 114
Unlocking and opening
Tailgate with KEYLESS-GO* 120
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* 37
Uphill driving
Cruise control 265