2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 towing

611 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located in the storage
compartment under the front passenger
seat.
1Tab
2Cover
Pull tab1 upward.

Fold the covering forward in the direc-
tion of arrow.

Remove the first aid kit.
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit, luggage
bowl, Minispare wheel
The vehicle jack, Minispare wheel, the ve-
hicle tools, and the luggage bowl are
stored in the compartment underneath the
trunk floor.
Lift up trunk floor cover and engage
trunk floor handle in upper edge of
trunk.
You can now remove the tools and ac-
cessories.The vehicle tool kit includes:


One towing eye bolt


One wheel bolt wrench with socket
wrench


One alignment bolt


One pair of gloves


One fuse extractor


One fuse chart for the main fuse box


Spare fuses


Collapsible wheel chock


Wheel bolts for Minispare wheel
!
Always keep the storage compartment un-
der the front passenger seat closed while the ve-
hicle is in motion.
i
Check expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.
!
To prevent damage, always disengage trunk
floor handle from trunk lid and lower trunk floor
before closing the trunk.

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.

644 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleInstalling towing eye bolt
1Cover on right side of front bumper
1Cover on right side of rear bumperRemoving cover

Press mark on cover1 in the direction
of arrow.

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

Take towing eye bolt and wheel wrench
out of the vehicle tool kit in the trunk
(page 611).

Screw towing eye bolt clockwise into
its stop and tighten with wheel wrench.Removing towing eye bolt

Loosen towing eye bolt counterclock-
wise with wheel wrench.

Unscrew towing eye bolt.

Store towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench in the vehicle tool kit in the
trunk.
Installing cover

Fit cover1 and snap into place.

685 Index
Dynamic Rear View Monitor* 413
Parallel parking 417
Reverse parking (back-in
parking) 415
Switching on 415
View through the camera 413
E
Easy-entry/exit feature 328
COMAND menu 224
EBP 71
ELCODE 672
Electric parking brake 364
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical outlet see Power outlet
Electrical system, Technical Data 659
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Emergency call system 462
Emergency calls, Tele Aid 463
Emergency engine shut-down 648
Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode) 377
Emergency operations
Locking the vehicle 614
mechanically releasing the parking
brake 616Releasing from inside 440
Remote door lock 469
Remote door unlock 468
Tilt/sliding sunroof or tilt/sliding
panel* 617
Unlocking the trunk 615
Unlocking the vehicle 614
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 639
First aid kit 611
Flat tire 629
Fuses 645
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 544
Roadside Assistance 16
Roadside Assistance (Tele Aid) 465
Towing the vehicle 642
Emission control 488
Emission control information label 652
Emission control system warranties 14
Engine
Belt layout 653
Cleaning 536
Compartment 492
Coolant 497, 662, 665Malfunction indicator lamp 547
Number 652, 672
Oil 496, 661, 663
Oils 494
Residual heat and ventilation 433
Starting 359
Technical data 654
Turning off 365
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 494
Adding 496
Additives 663
Checking level 494
Checking level (Dipstick) 495
Checking level (Instrument cluster con-
trol system) 494
Consumption 494
Dipstick 495
Filler neck 496, 497
Messages in display 495, 602
Recommended engine oils and oil
filters 661
Viscosity 672
ESP
®
72
Messages in display 572, 582
Warning lamp 549

698 IndexTemperature
Outside temperature indicator 29
Setting interior temperature
(COMAND) 230
Tires 510
Tie-down hooks, Trunk 453
Tightening torque, Wheel bolts 633, 678
Tilt/sliding sunroof see Power tilt/sliding
sunroof
Time
Setting (COMAND) 213
TIN 527
Tire and Loading Information
Placard 504
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tires 500
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)* 511
And Rims 655
And Wheels 500
Care and maintenance 501
Chains 531
Checking inflation pressure electroni-
cally with Advanced Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (Advanced
TPMS)* 511Checking inflation pressure electroni-
cally with Run Flat Indicator (Canada
only) 515
Cleaning 502
Cold tire inflation pressure 526
Direction of rotation 503
Driving instructions 482
Important notes on tire inflation
pressure 510
Inflation pressure 509
Information placard 504
Inspection 501
Load rating 519, 528
Load rating, Maximum 523, 527
Minispare wheel 613, 658
Ply composition and material
used 528
Problems under-/overinflation 509
Retreads 500
Rotating 529
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 515
Service life 501
Sizes 655
Snow 530
Speed rating 484, 520, 528
Storing 502Supplemental tire inflation pressure
information 489
Temperature 510, 525
Terminology 526
TPMS malfunction telltale 553
Traction 483, 528
Tread depth 502
Tread depth, Winter 530
Treadwear indicators 528
Vehicle maximum load on 528
Wear pattern 529
Winter 530
Tools 611
Top tether
Children in the vehicle 64
Tow-away alarm 76
Tow-away alarm (COMAND) 228
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 611,
644
Towing the vehicle 642
Tow-start 639, 642
Traction 73, 483, 525, 528
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 486
Tread 528
Tread depth, Tires 502

699 Index
Tread depth, Winter tires 530
Treadwear indicators 528
Trip odometer 245
Resetting 246
Troubleshooting
Voice Control* 299
Trunk
Closing 437, 614
Emergency release 440
Lighting 350
Message in display 610
Opening 436
Opening/closing system* 437, 438
Opening-height restriction
(COMAND) 227
Power closing assist for trunk lid 313
Tie-down hooks 453
Unlocking in an emergency 614
Trunk, Trunk lid, Lock button
(KEYLESS-GO*) 310
Tumbler holder see Cup holder
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 537
Replacing bulbs 622Turn signals 362
Additional in mirrors 622
Front bulbs 622
Messages in display 596
Rear bulbs 622
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 528
Uphill driving
Cruise control 382
Upholstery, Cleaning and care of 542
Useful features 455
V
Vanity mirrors
In the sun visor 455
Vehicle
Batteries 634
Breaking-in period 478
Care 534
Dimensions 660
Individual settings, control system in-
strument cluster 254
Locking/unlocking 304, 306Locking/unlocking in an
emergency 614
Lowering 633
Menu (COMAND) 220
Service battery 634
Towing 642
Washing 534, 536
Weights 660
Vehicle capacity weight 528
Vehicle data recording 22
Vehicle Identification Number see VIN
Vehicle jack 612, 630
Vehicle level
Changing (ABC*) 404
Changing (Airmatic) 402
Setting
Manual (ABC*) 404
Manual (Airmatic) 402
Setting (ABC*) 404
Setting (Airmatic) 402
Setting, Automatic 402
Setting, Automatic (ABC*) 404
Vehicle level control 678
Vehicle level control (Airmatic) 401