Page 453 of 505

452 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment.
When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with 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.
Switch off the automatic central locking
(
page 164).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised, the gear selector lever must be in posi-
tion N and the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1). Oth-
erwise, the ESP
® will immediately be engaged
and will apply the rear wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the gear selector lever must be in
positionN and the SmartKey must be in starter
switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground or the front axle raised, 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).
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
position 0 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.
Page 454 of 505

453 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
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.
iTo signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, switch on the igni-
tion and activate the combination switch for the
left or right turn signal in the usual manner – only
the selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard warn-
ing flasher will operate again.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey in starter switch position2, or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in position2,
the vehicle doors lock if the left front wheel as
well as the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle
speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km / h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 164).
Towing of the vehicle should only be done using
the properly installed towing eye bolt. Never at-
tach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to the vehi-
cle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iIf the battery is disconnected or discharged
the SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch. For more information, see “Battery”
(
page 447) and “Jump starting”
(
page 450).
the gear selector lever will remain locked in
positionP. For information on manually un-
locking the transmission gear selector lever,
see (
page 412).
Page 455 of 505
454 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
Towing eye bolt CLK 350
1Cover on right side of front bumper2Cover on right side of rear bumper
To remove cover:
Press mark on cover 1 or 2.
Lift cover off to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the compartment under-
neath the trunk floor).
Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.
To reinstall cover:
Fit cover 1 or 2 and snap into place.
Page 456 of 505

455 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing eye bolt CLK 550/CLK 63 AMG
Towing eye bolt in front bumper
The cover for the threaded bore in the front
bumper is identical to the cover on the
CLK 350.
To remove and to reinstall cover, see “Tow-
ing eye bolt CLK 350” (
page 454).
Towing eye bolt in rear bumper
1Cover on right side of rear bumper
2Recess in the coverTo remove cover 1:
Insert flat, blunt object as a lever in
recess 2 on the edge of cover 1.
Loosen cover 1 from the bumper us-
ing lever, to reveal the threaded hole
for towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the compartment
underneath the trunk floor).
Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.To reinstall cover 1:Hook right-hand side of the cover1
into opening.
Slide cover1 as far as it will go in the
direction of the arrow3.
Gently press left-hand side of cover1
in direction of the arrow4.
The hooks on the left-hand side
engage.
iWhen closing the cover1, make sure the
cover’s check strap does not get caught.
Page 458 of 505
457 Practical hints
Fuses
Mainfuse box in passenger
compartment
The main fuse box is located in the passen-
ger compartment on the driver’s side of
the cockpit.
1Main fuse box coverOpening fuse boxOpen the driver’s door.
Insert flat, blunt object as a lever into
the edge of the fuse box cover1 at
the position indicated by the arrow.
Loosen fuse box cover1 from cockpit
using lever.
Using your hands, remove fuse box
cover1 rearward.
Closing fuse box
Attach fuse box cover1 in the front.
Fold fuse box cover1 in until it
engages.
Fuse box in engine compartment
The fuse box is located in the engine com-
partment on the driver’s side.
1Cover
2Screw
3Retainer
Removing cover
Twist screws2 90° counterclock-
wise.
Lift the rear of cover1.
Slide out retainer3 and remove
cover1 by pulling towards front.
!Do not use sharp objects such as a screw
driver to open the fuse box cover1 in the cock-
pit, as this could damage it.
Page 487 of 505

486 Index
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
Battery,Jump starting 290, 450
First aid kit 404
Flat tire, Changing 436
Fuses 456
Hazard warning flasher 133
Roadside Assistance 12
Towing the vehicle 452
Emission control 310
Emission control information label 463
Emission control vacuum line
routing diagram label 463
Emission system warranties 10
Engine
Belt layout 464
Block heater (Canada only) 352
Break-in recommendations 300
Cleaning 358
Compartment 315
Malfunction
indicator lamp 27, 369, 370
Maximum engine speed 465
Messages in display 390
Number 463Starting 50
Starting difficulties 52
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 51
Starting with SmartKey 51
Technical data 465
Turning off 60
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 60
Turning off with SmartKey 60
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 317, 474
Adding 319, 474
Additives 474
Changing 319, 474
Checking level (Dipstick) 317
Consumption 317
Filler cap 319
Filler neck 319
Engine oil level 314
ESP
®27, 90
Messages in display 380–381
Warning lamp 372
ETD 79
Safety guidelines 67
Exterior rear view mirrors 45, 184
Exterior view 22F
Filler cap, Engine oil 319
Filler neck, Engine oil 319
First aid kit 404
Flat tire 436
Jacking up the vehicle 441
Lowering the vehicle 445
Minispare wheel 407
Mounting the spare wheel 441
Preparing the vehicle 436
TIREFIT (CLK 63 AMG only) 404
TIREFIT kit* 436
Flexible Service System see
FSS (Canada vehicles)
Floormats* 283
Fluids
Brake fluid 314, 475
Engine coolant 320, 477
Engine oil 317, 474
Transmission fluid 319
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning* system 322, 479
Fog lamps 130, 428
Messages in display 397
Replacing bulbs 428
Front air bags 69
Page 495 of 505

494 Index
Power windows 249
Cleaning 362
Convenience closing feature 253
Express opening/closing 250, 251
Opening with soft top switch 254
Operating 249
Rear side windows,
Blocking operation 86
Summer opening feature 252
Synchronizing 251
Practical hints 365
Premium unleaded gasoline 475
Problems
While driving 57
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Production options weight 348
Program mode see
Automatic transmission,
Automatic shift program
Program mode selector switch
Automatic shift program 176
PSI 348
Push-start see Tow-startR
RACETIMER (CLK 63 AMG only) 146
Radio
Operation 218
Search function 163
Selecting stations 149
Selecting stations (satellite*) 150
Radio transmitters 309
Range (distance to empty) 166
Reading lamp 31, 135
Rear fog lamp see Fog lamps
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
Rear seat ashtray see Ashtrays
Rear seat head restraints see
Head restraints
Rear side windows
Blocking operation 86
Rear side-impact air bags* 70
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window defroster 187
Recommended
engine oils and oil filter 474
Recommended
tire inflation pressure 348
Recovery services,
Stolen vehicle (Tele Aid) 293Refrigerant, Air conditioning 474
Refueling 312
Regular checks 314
Reminder, Seat belt see Seat belts, Telltale
Remote control
SmartKey 98, 102
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 101
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) 292
Removing
Ski sack* (Canada only) 274
Replacing bulbs 427
Additional turn signals 428, 429
Backup lamps 428
Brake lamps 428
Corner-illuminating
front fog lamps* 428, 429
Fog lamps 428
Headlamp bulbs 430
Headlamps 428
High beam flasher
(Bi-Xenon*) 428, 431
High beam flasher
(Halogen) 428, 430
High beam headlamps
(Bi-Xenon*) 428, 431
Page 499 of 505

498 Index
Telephone* 28, 167, 284
Answering/ending a call 168
Changing mobile phone cradle 286
Compartment 278
Hands-free microphone 31
Inserting in cradle 285
Installing a different
mobile phone cradle 286
Messages in display 403
Operation 167, 234
Phone book* 168
Redialing 169
Removing from cradle 286
TEL menu* 167
Temperature
Interior temperature 192, 202
Tightening torque, Wheel bolts 445
Time 158
Time, Setting 158
TIN 349
Tire and Loading Information
Placard 327
Terminology 347
Tire inflation pressure 438
Checking 331Tire inflation pressure see
the placard on the fuel filler flap
TIREFIT (CLK 63 AMG only) 404
TIREFIT*
Instructions for use 436
Tires 323, 466
Air pressure 347
Care and maintenance 324
Chains 352
Cleaning 325
Direction of rotation, Spinning 326
Driving instructions 305
Important notes,
Tire inflation pressure 332
Inflation pressure 314, 331, 333
Inflation pressure,
Information placard 331
Inspection 324
Load rating 349
MOExtended system* 446
MOExtended* 336, 466
Ply composition
and material used 349
Problems under-/overinflated 336
Retreads 323
Rims and tires 466Rotation 350
Run Flat Indicator 334
Service life 324
Sizes 467
Snow 351
Spare wheel 407, 441, 469
Speed rating 307, 339, 349
Storing 325
Temperature 346
Terminology 347
Tire Identification Number see TIN
TIREFIT (CLK 63 AMG only) 404
Traction 306, 349
Tread 349
Tread depth 325, 351
Treadwear indicators 349
Wear pattern 350
Winter 351
Tools 404
Top tether
Children in the vehicle 85
Towing eye bolt 454
CLK 550, CLK 63 AMG 455
Towing the vehicle 452
Tow-start 450, 452
Traction 92, 306, 349