642 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 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 posi-
tion 0.
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 ESP
® (page 73), the tow-away
alarm (
page 76) and the automatic central
locking (page 313).
If the vehicle’s transmission is damaged, only
have it towed with the drive shaft disconnected.
!
Make sure that the electric parking brake is
released. If the electric parking brake is malfunc-
tioning, release it mechanically (
page 616).
!
In vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, insert the
SmartKey into the starter switch under the
KEYLESS-GO button and turn the SmartKey in
the starter switch to 0.
!
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised, the engine must be shut off (SmartKey in
starter switch starter switch position 0 or 1).
Otherwise the ESP
®/ETS will immediately be en-
gaged and will apply the rear wheel brakes.
While towing, the battery must be connected and
charged. Otherwise:
you will not be able to switch on the ignition
you will not be able to engage the automatic
transmission in position N
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the automatic transmission must be
shifted to N and the SmartKey must be in starter
switch position2.
In vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*, you must use the
starter switch under the KEYLESS-GO* button
(
page 315).
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).
!
To be certain to avoid a possibility of dam-
age to the drivetrain, however, we recommend
the drive shaft be disconnected at the rear axle
drive flange for any towing beyond a short tow to
a nearby garage.
643 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
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 sys-
tem
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 sure the SmartKey is in
starter switch position 2 and automatic
locking is deactivated (
page 223).
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.i
The automatic transmission will remain
locked in position P and the SmartKey will not
turn in the starter switch if the consumer battery
is disconnected or discharged. See information
on the battery (
page 634) or on jump starting
(
page 639).
i
To signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey in
starter switch to position 2 and activate the com-
bination 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 position 2, or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (
page 317)
in position 2, the vehicle doors lock if the left
front wheel as well as the right rear wheel are
turning at vehicle speeds of approximately
9mph (15km/h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm (
page 76).
To prevent the vehicle doors from locking, deac-
tivate the automatic central locking
(
page 313).
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 vehicle
chassis, frame or suspension parts.
648 Practical hintsFusesFuse box in the rear passenger
compartment
1Cover
Opening
Swing down center armrest.
Open cover behind center armrest.
Pull cover1 forward in direction of ar-
row.Closing
Press cover1 backward and engage.
Emergency engine shut-down
If the engine can no longer be stopped us-
ing the SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button, the engine can be
turned off by withdrawing 3 fuses.
For easy removal of fuses, use the fuse ex-
tractor (supplied with vehicle tool kit) to
pull out the fuses marked on the fuse chart
as “Emergency engine shut-down”.
The fuse chart is also located in the vehicle
tool kit (
page 611).
!
Make sure that the seal in the cover is not
damaged during opening or closing.
674 Technical termsInstrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
engine temperature and fuel gauge.
ISO9660
A standard file system for recording
data on CDs.
Joliet
Standard for recording data on CDs; an
extension of ISO 9660.
KEYLESS-GO*
System for entering and operating the
vehicle without the use of a SmartKey.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the transmis-
sion down to the lowest possible gear.
This very quickly accelerates the vehi-
cle and should not be used for normal
acceleration needs.Kilopascal (kPa)
(
page 527)
LED
(Light E
mitting D
iode)
Semiconductor element that converts
electricity directly into light.
Line of fall
The direct line that an object moves
downhill when influenced by the force
of gravity alone.
LOGIC7
® surround
Multichannel surround technology
from the professional audio industry
that plays back 5.1 and stereo record-
ings in surround sound. LOGIC7
® cre-
ates a natural 360° sound experience
on all seats.
Locking knob
Knob on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the locking knob down
on an individual door from inside will
lock that door.Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles)
Maintenance service indicator in the
->multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. The Maintenance
System in your vehicle tracks distance
driven and the time elapsed since your
last maintenance service, and calls for
the next maintenance service accord-
ingly.
Maximum load rating
(
page 527)
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(page 527)
Maximum tire inflation pressure
(page 527)
Memory function
Used to store three individual seat,
steering wheel and exterior mirror posi-
tions.
680 IndexAquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest 448, 450
Ashtrays 456
Aspect ratio 526
Audio (COMAND) 104
CD mode 111
DVD mode 111
MP3 mode 111
Audio (Control system instrument
cluster) 248
CD changer 249
DVD changer 249
Audio DVD
Fast forward/rewind (COMAND) 113
Menu overview (COMAND) 110
Pause function (COMAND) 112
Stop function (COMAND) 112
Auto-dimming, Rear view mirrors 334
Automatic climate control 424
Adjusting air distribution
(COMAND) 230
Adjusting air flow from air vents
(COMAND) 233
Adjusting air volume (COMAND) 230
Adjusting the footwell temperature
(COMAND) 232Air recirculation mode 431
Central climate control menu
(COMAND) 231
Central menu for rear climate control*
(COMAND) 234
Defrosting 429
Operating the rear climate control*
from the front 234
Operating via COMAND 229
Rear window defroster 430
Selecting Mono mode
(COMAND) 232
Setting temperature (COMAND) 230
Setting the temperature 429
Setting the temperature in the rear
passenger compartment 435
Switching cooling on or off
(COMAND) 231
Automatic headlamp mode 255, 343
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 349
Automatic locking when driving 313
Automatic shift program 374
Automatic transmission
Accelerator position 373
Automatic shift program 374Emergency operation (limp-home
mode) 377
Fluid 661
Fluid level 497
Gear ranges 372
Gear selector lever 367
Gear shifting malfunctions 377
Hill start assist system 374
Kickdown 373
Program mode selector switch 374
Shifting procedure 369
Starting the engine 359
Steering wheel gearshift control 375
Transmission fluid 497
Transmission positions 370
B
Backup lamps
Replacing bulbs 622
Bar 526
BAS 71
Batteries, SmartKey
Checking battery condition 311
Replacing 619
Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Checking battery condition 311
Replacing 619
687 Index
G
Garage door opener 470
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 526
Gear range 673
Automatic transmission 372
Limiting 372
Shifting into optimal 376
Gear selector lever 367
Gearshift pattern 367
Messages in display 562, 566, 567,
569, 610
Position 369
Shifting procedure 369
Transmission position 370
Global Positioning System see GPS
Glove box 448
Gloves, Vehicle tool kit 611
GPS 673
Reception (COMAND) 145
Tele Aid 462
Gross Axle Weight Rating see GAWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating see GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight see GVW
GVW 526
GVWR 527H
Hands-free microphone 37
Hard plastic trim items, Cleaning 542
Hazard warning flasher 348
Head restraints 324
Adjustment 324
Folding back and placing upright rear
head restraints 325
Front seat 324
Luxury active head restraints
(S600 only) 59
Rear seat 325
Resetting activated luxury active head
restraints (S600 only) 618
Headlamp cleaning system 346, 498
Washer fluid 662, 668
Headlamps
Automatic control 343
Automatic headlamp mode 255
Cleaning lenses 537
Cleaning system 498
Manual headlamp mode 255
Messages in display 595
Refilling washer fluid 499
Headliner and shelf below rear window,
Cleaning and care of 542Heated seats* 322
Heated steering wheel* 331
Height adjustments
Vehicle level (ABC*) 403
High beam
Replacing bulbs 622
High beam flasher 347
High beam headlamps
Switching on 346
High mounted brake lamp 622
Hood 492
Message in display 591
Opening 492
Horn 27
Hydroplaning 483
I
Identification labels 652
Identification Number, Vehicle (VIN) 652
Ignition 315, 317
Switching on 315
Switching on, KEYLESS-GO* 317
Immobilizer 75
Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Individualization
Voice Control* 302
688 IndexInfant and child restraint systems see Chil-
dren in the vehicle
Inflation pressure see Tires
Infrared reflecting windshield 475
Inside door handle 312
Instrument cluster 28, 378, 674
Cleaning 541
Coolant temperature gauge 378
Illumination 81, 378
Lamps 544
Multifunction display 241
Outside temperature indicator 379
Selecting the language
(COMAND) 216
Interior lighting 348
Activating automatic control 349
Ambient lighting (COMAND) 225
Deactivating automatic control 349
Delayed switch-off (COMAND) 226
In the rear 350
Reading lamps in the front 349
Reading lamps in the rear 350
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 332
Auto-dimming 334Interior storage spaces see Storage com-
partments
J
Jack 612, 630
Jacking up the vehicle 630
Jump starting 639
K
Key, Mechanical 614
Loss of 311
Key, SmartKey 304
Battery check lamp 304, 305
Factory setting 305
Global locking and unlocking 305
Lock button 304
Locking and unlocking 304
Loss of 311
Messages in display 593
Opening button for trunk 304
Panic button 68
Remote control 304
Restoring to factory setting 306
Selective setting 305
Starting the engine 359
Switching on ignition with 315Turning off engine 366
Unlock button 304
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 306
Battery check lamp 306, 310
Closing, Trunk 440
Factory setting 309
Global locking and unlocking 309
Important notes on using
KEYLESS-GO* 308
Lock button 306
Locking and unlocking 306
Locking using the lock button on door
or on trunk lid 310
Loss of 311
Messages in display 592
Opening button for trunk 306
Panic button 68
Remote control 306
Restoring to factory setting 310
Selective setting 310
Starting the engine 360
Switching on ignition with 317
Turning off engine 366
Unlock button 306
Kickdown 373, 674
Kilopascal 527
689 Index
L
Labels 652
Certification 652
Emission control information 652
Supplemental tire inflation pressure
information 489
Tire and Loading Information 504
Vacuum line routing diagram 652
Lamp bulbs, exterior 621
Lamps, exterior
Front 622
Light sensor 596
Rear 622
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 29, 69, 544
Air bag Off 49
Battery (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 310
Battery check lamp (SmartKey) 305
Brakes 545
DISTRONIC Plus* 29, 388, 397, 549
Engine diagnostics 547
Engine malfunction 547
ESP
®
549
Front passenger front air bag off 53,
555Fuel reserve 550
Instrument cluster 544
Maintenance service indicator 532
Seat belts telltale 550
SRS 552
Language (COMAND) 216
LATCH-type child seat anchors see Chil-
dren in the vehicle
Leather upholstery, Cleaning and care
of 542
Lever
For automatic transmission (gear se-
lector lever) 367
For cruise control 381
For DISTRONIC Plus* 390
License plate lamps
Messages in display 597
Replacing bulbs 622
Light alloy wheels, Cleaning 541
Light sensor
Message in display 596
Lighter see Cigarette lighter
Lighting 342
Automatic headlamp mode 343
Combination switch 346
Corner-illuminating lamps 347Courtesy lighting 350
Daytime running lamp mode 344
Door entry lamps 350
High beam flasher 347
High beams 346
Instrument cluster illumination 81,
378
Interior 348
Manual headlamp mode 343
Trunk 350
Limp-home mode 377
Line of fall 674
Loading see Vehicle loading
Locator lighting (COMAND) 221
Lock button
Door handle (KEYLESS-GO*) 309,
358
Key, SmartKey 304
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 306
Trunk lid (KEYLESS-GO*) 310
Locking 363
Automatic central locking
(COMAND) 223
Vehicle in an emergency 615
Locking knob 312, 674