2007 MERCEDES-BENZ E550 4MATIC tow

466 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleMercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment. This method is pref-
erable to other types of towing.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 (except vehi-
cles with 4MATIC) only so far as necessary
to have the vehicle moved to a safe loca-
tion 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 tow-away alarm and the automatic
central locking.
!
Vehicles with 4MATIC:
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 vehicle with all
wheels on the ground.
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 brake
system


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 the SmartKey is in
starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in the 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.

467 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.!
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised (not permissible for vehicles with
4MATIC), the gear selector lever must be in
positionN and the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1).
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
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).
!
Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
the vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
i
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 approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 127).
i
To signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey in
starter switch to position2 and activate the
combination 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 hazard warn-
ing flasher will operate again.
i
The 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. For more information see “Batter-
ies” (page 460) or “Jump starting”
(
page 464).
For information on manual unlocking of the gear
selector lever, see (
page 438).

468 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleInstalling towing eye bolt
Front of vehicle
1Cover on right side of front bumper
To remove cover:
Press mark on cover1 in direction of
arrow.

Lift cover1 off to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the storage compart-
ment under the trunk floor).

Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.
To reinstall cover:

Fit cover1 and snap into place.
Rear of vehicle
2Cover on right side of rear bumper
To remove cover:

Pull cover2 in direction of arrow.

Fold cover2 down to reveal the
threaded hole for the towing eye bolt.The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the storage compart-
ment under the trunk floor).

Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.
To reinstall cover:

Fit cover2 and snap into place.

505 Index
Drinking and driving 309
Driving
Abroad 317
Hydroplaning 314
In winter 316
Instructions 49, 309
Problems 60
Safety systems 97
Through standing water 317
With Distronic* 262
Driving safety systems
4MATIC 105
ABS 97
BAS 99
EBP 100
ESP
®
100
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP
®
105
Driving systems
Airmatic DC (Dual Control) 265
Cruise control 249
Distronic* 252
Parktronic system* 269
Driving tips 188
Accelerator position 188
Kickdown 188E
Easy-entry/exit feature 46, 178
EBP 100
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical system, Technical data 488
Electronic Stability Program see
ESP
®
100
Emergency calls
Tele Aid calls 295
Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode) 197
Emergency operations 437
Gear selector lever, Unlocking 438
Locking/unlocking the vehicle 436
Remote door unlock 300
Tilt/sliding sunroof or tilt/sliding pan-
el*, Manual operation 439
Trunk lid, Releasing from inside 125
Trunk lid, Unlocking 437
Emergency Tensioning Device see ETDEmergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 464
First aid kit 432
Flat tire, changing 452
Fuses
Hazard warning flasher 144
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 380, 381, 382, 383, 384,
385, 386, 387, 390, 391
Roadside Assistance 12
Towing the vehicle 466
Emission control 319
Information label 477
Vacuum line routing diagram
label 477
Emission control system warranties 10

513 Index
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Opening/closing 242
Opening/closing in an
emergency 439
Stopping 244
Synchronizing 244
Power washer 370
Power windows 237
Cleaning 374
Operating 237
Rear door window, Blocking
operation 95
Synchronizing 239
Practical hints 380
PRE-SAFE
®
Messages in display 398, 407
Problems
While driving 60
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Production options weight 361
Program mode see Automatic transmis-
sion, Automatic shift program
Program mode selector switch
Automatic shift program 190
PSI 361Push-start see Tow-start
R
Radio
Selecting stations 161
Selecting stations (satellite*) 161
Radio transmitters 318
Reading lamp, front 146
Reading lamp, rear 147
Rear bench seat*, foldable 276
Rear door ashtray see Ashtray
Rear door window
Blocking operation 95
Rear fog lamp see Fog lamps 141
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
Rear seat head restraints see Head re-
straints
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window defroster 203
Rear window sunshade* 202
Recommended tire inflation
pressure 361
Recovery services, Stolen vehicle
(Tele Aid) 301
Refrigerant, Air conditioning 495
Refueling 321
Regular checks 323Reminder, Seat belt see Seat belts,
Telltale 388
Remote control see Key, SmartKey
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) 300
Replacing bulbs
Additional turn signals 448
Brake lamps 446
Headlamps 446
High beam headlamps 444
High mounted brake lamp 445
License plate lamps 445, 449
Low beam headlamps 444, 446
Parking lamps 445, 448
Side marker lamps 443
Side marker lamps, front 448
Tail lamps 445, 448
Turn signal lamps 443, 444, 447
Reporting safety defects 18
Research Octane Number see RON
Reserve fuel
Message in display 419
Reset button, In instrument cluster 148,
166
Reset tool
Depository 440

517 Index
Tires 333, 481
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*,
(Canada only) 345
Advanced TPMS malfunction
telltale 391
Air pressure 341
Care and maintenance 334
Chains 365
Cleaning 335
Direction of rotation, Spinning 336
Driving instructions 313
Important notes, Tire inflation
pressure 342
Inflation pressure 342, 349
Information Placard 337
Inspection 334
Load rating 361
Messages in display 427
Ply composition and material
used 361
Problems under-/overinflation 349
Retreads 333
Rims and tires 481
Rotation 362
Service life 334Sizes 482
Snow 364
Spare wheel
Speed rating 315, 352, 362
Storing 335
Temperature 342, 358
Terminology 359
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Traction 314, 362
Tread 362
Tread depth 335, 364
Treadwear indicators 362
Wear pattern 362, 363
Winter 364
Tools 434
Top tether
Children in the vehicle 92
Total load limit 362
Towing eye bolt 468
Towing the vehicle 466
Tow-start 464, 466
Traction 362
Transmission fluid level 329
Transmission gear selector lever see Gear
selector lever
Transmission see Automatic transmissionTraveling abroad 317
Tread 362
Tread depth 335, 364
Treadwear indicators 362
Trip computer 179
Trip odometer 149
Trunk
Cargo area 279
Closing the lid 122
Fuse box 470
Lamp 147
Lock button, KEYLESS-GO* 118
Message in display 430
Opening 120, 121
Tie-down rings 280
Trunk lid emergency release 125
Unlocking in an emergency 437
Valet locking 126
Turn signals 57
Additional in mirrors 444
Bulbs 444
Cleaning lenses 372
Indicator lamps 27
Messages in display 426
Replacing bulbs 447
Turning off engine 63

518 IndexU
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 362
Units, Settings
Speedometer 169
Temperature 169
Unleaded gasoline, Premium 496
Unlocking the vehicle 36
In an emergency 436
Uphill driving
Cruise control 250
Upholstery
Cleaning 376
Useful features 282V
Vacuum line routing diagram label 477
Valet locking 126
Vehicle
Battery 460
Care 369
Control system, settings menu 151
Dimensions 489
Individual settings 166, 168
Locking/unlocking 36, 61, 110
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency 436, 437
Lowering 458
Modifications and alterations, Operat-
ing safety 16
Towing 466
Washing 369
Weight 490
Vehicle jack 432, 434
Vehicle level control see Airmatic DC
(Dual Control)
Vehicle lighting 324Vehicle loading
Cargo tie-down rings 280
Instructions 279
Load limit 338
Roof rack* 273
Ski bag* (Canada only) 274
Split rear bench seat* 276
Terminology 359
Vehicle maximum load on the tire 362
Vehicle Recovery services, Stolen
(Tele Aid) 301
Vehicle status message memory 164
Vehicle tool kit 434
Vehicle washing 371
W
Warning lamps see Lamps, Indicator and
warning
Warning sounds
Distance warning function* 261
Distronic* 256
Driver’s or passenger’s seat belt 85
Parking brake 56
Parktronic system* 272
Seat belt telltale 388, 389
Warranty coverage 475
Washer fluid see Windshield washer fluid