Page 463 of 514
462 Practical hintsBatteryThe battery is located in the cargo com-
partment on the right-hand side under a 
cover.
Pull cover up and detach it.1Positive terminal
2Negative terminal
3Lateral plug
4Battery ventilation hose
Warning!
G
Jump starting must only be done using the 
designated terminal connections in the en-
gine compartment (
page 467).
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries 
(page 330).
Never lean over batteries while connecting, 
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not 
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes, 
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately 
flush affected area with water and seek 
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas, 
which is flammable and explosive. Keep 
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid 
improper connection of jumper cables, 
smoking etc. 
     
        
        Page 467 of 514

466 Practical hintsJump starting
If the battery is discharged, the engine can 
be started with jumper cables and the bat-
tery of another vehicle. Observe the follow-
ing:
Jump starting should only be performed 
when the engine and catalytic 
converter are cold.
Do not start the engine if the battery is 
frozen. Let the battery thaw out first.
Only jump start from batteries with the 
same voltage rating (12 V). Jump start-
ing with a higher voltage battery could 
damage the vehicle’s electrical system, 
which will not be covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Only use jumper cables with sufficient 
cross-section and insulated terminal 
clamps.
Always make sure the jumper cables 
are not on or near pulleys, fans or other 
parts that move when the engine is 
started or running.
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these directions will cause 
damage to the electronic components, and 
can lead to a battery explosion and severe 
injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting 
or jump starting, you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not 
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes, 
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately 
flush affected area with water, and seek 
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas, 
which is flammable and very explosive. Keep 
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid 
improper connection of jumper cables, 
smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery 
can result in it exploding, causing personal 
injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
!
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!
Jump starting may only be performed on the 
designated jump start terminals located in the 
engine compartment (
page 467).
Avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine using a bat-
tery quick charge unit.
If the engine does not run after several unsuc-
cessful starting attempts, have it checked at the 
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Excessive unburned fuel generated by repeated 
failed starting attempts may damage the catalyt-
ic converter.
Make sure the jumper cables do not have loose 
or missing insulation.
Make sure the cable clamps do not touch any 
other metal part while the other end is still at-
tached to a battery. 
     
        
        Page 468 of 514

467 Practical hints
Jump starting
The jump-start contacts are located in the 
engine compartment.
Make sure the two vehicles do not 
touch.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Apply the parking brake (
page 62).
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
to positionP.
Open the hood (
page 324).1Negative (-) terminal
2Cover of positive (+) terminal 
Open cover of the positive terminal.
Connect positive terminal 2 and the 
positive terminal of the charged battery 
with the jumper cable. Clamp cable to 
charged battery first. 
Start engine of the vehicle with the 
charged battery and run at idle speed.
Connect negative terminal1 and the 
negative terminal of the charged 
battery with the second jumper cable. 
Clamp cable to charged battery first.
Start the engine of the disabled 
vehicle.
You can now turn on the electrical con-
sumers. Do not switch on the headlamps 
under any circumstances.
Remove the jumper cables first from 
negative terminals on each battery and 
then from the positive terminals on 
each battery.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery. 
Do not smoke. 
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries 
(page 330).
!
Never invert the terminal connections! 
     
        
        Page 470 of 514

469 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 126). 
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 462) and “Jump starting” 
(
page 466).
For information on manual unlocking of the gear 
selector lever, see (
page 437).