407 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the spare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(
page 401).
Take the spare wheel, wheel wrench,
wheel bolts, jack, and electric air pump
out of the trunk (
page 382).Lifting the vehicle
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
(not included) or other sizeable ob-
jects.
One wheel chock is included with the
vehicle tool kit (
page 383).
When changing wheel on a level surface:
Place one wheel chock or other size-
able object in front of and another
wheel chock or other sizeable object
behind the wheel that is diagonally
opposite to the wheel being changed.
Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack
on a level surface. However, should cir-
cumstances require you to do so on a hill,
place the wheel chock or other sizeable
object and the other wheel chock or other
sizeable object as follows:
Place wheel chocks and other sizeable
objects on the downhill side blocking
both wheels of the axle not being
worked on.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a spare wheel with
collapsible tire mounted. Adapt your driving
style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted,
ensure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.
408 Practical hints
Flat tire
1Wheel wrench
On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts in direc-
tion of arrow (approximately one full
turn with wheel wrench1).
The jack take-up brackets are located di-
rectly behind the front wheel housings and
in front of the rear wheel housings.2Jack
3Take-up bracketPlace jack2 on firm ground.
Position jack2 under take-up
bracket3 so that it is always vertical
(plumb-line) as seen from the side,
even if the vehicle is parked on an
incline.
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into either side of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Be sure the jack arm is fully
seated in the jack take-up bracket. Always
lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jackstands before working under the
vehicle.
Warning!G
Position the jack only on the jack take-up
brackets designed for this purpose.
If the jack is not properly positioned, the
vehicle may fall off of the jack.
409 Practical hints
Flat tire
Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is a
maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground.Removing the wheel
4Alignment bolt
Unscrew the upper-most wheel bolt
and remove.
Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt4 supplied in the vehicle tool
kit (
page 382).
Remove the remaining bolts.
Remove the wheel.Mounting the spare wheel
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for spare wheel with
collapsible tire (located under plastic
cover on the outside of spare wheel
rim)
Warning!G
The jack is intended only for lifting the
vehicle briefly for wheel changes. It is not
suited for performing maintenance work
under the vehicle.
Never start the engine when the vehicle
is raised.
Never lie down under the raised vehicle.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. This
could result in damage to the bolt and wheel hub
threads.
Warning!G
Inflate collapsible tire only after the wheel is
properly mounted.
Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric
pump (
page 411) before lowering the
vehicle.
410 Practical hints
Flat tire
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.
Guide the spare wheel onto the align-
ment bolt and push it on.
Insert the wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when mount-
ing the spare wheel with collapsible tire. The use
of any wheel bolts other than wheel bolts2 for
the spare wheel with collapsible tire will physi-
cally damage the vehicle’s brakes.
!To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat
against hub and hold it there while installing first
wheel bolt.
Warning!G
Always replace wheel bolts that are
damaged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident. Be
sure to use the correct wheel bolts.
411 Practical hints
Flat tire
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.
Inflate the collapsible tire
(
page 411).Inflating the collapsible tire
1Flap
2Air pump switch
3Electrical plug
4Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
5Union nut
Take the electric air pump out of the
trunk (
page 383).
Open flap1 on air pump.
Pull out electrical plug3 and air hose
with pressure gauge4.
Close vent screw on air hose4.
Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve.
Screw union nut5 onto the tire valve.
Make sure electric air pump switch2
is set to0.
Insert electrical plug3 into the power
outlet in the passenger footwell
(
page 257).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1.
Warning!G
Use only genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts. Other wheel bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the
vehicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle
could fall off the jack.Warning!G
Observe instructions on air pump label.
!Do not lower the vehicle before inflating the
collapsible tire. Otherwise the rim may be
damaged.
!The cigarette lighter (page 256) is not de-
signed for use with the electric air pump. Use the
power outlet in the passenger footwell
(
page 257) for electric air pump operation.
412 Practical hints
Flat tire
PressI on electric air pump switch2.
The electric air pump switches on and
inflates the collapsible tire.
Inflate the collapsible tire to approxi-
mately 51 psi (3.5 bar).
This takes about 5 minutes. Air
hose4 and union nut5 can become
hot during inflation. Exercise proper
caution to avoid burning yourself when
using the equipment.
Press0 on electric air pump switch2.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
The electric air pump is switched off.
If the tire inflation pressure is above
51 psi (3.5 bar), release excess tire
inflation pressure using the vent screw
on air hose4.
Detach the electric air pump.
Reinstall tire valve cap.
Store electrical plug3 and air
hose4 behind flap 1 and place the
electric air pump back in the trunk.
Lower the vehicle (page 413).
!Compare the recommended tire inflation
pressure for your vehicle with the tire inflation
pressure on the yellow label located on the spare
wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yellow label
on the spare wheel rim differs from the values
given in this Operator’s Manual, inflate the
collapsible tire to the recommended tire inflation
pressure given on the yellow label on the spare
wheel rim.
!Do not operate the electric air pump longer
than 6 minutes without interruption. Otherwise it
may overheat.
You may operate the electric air pump again
after it has cooled off.Warning!G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.
413 Practical hints
Flat tire
Lowering the vehicle
Lower vehicle by turning the crank
counterclockwise until vehicle is
resting fully on its own weight.
Remove the jack.
1-5 Wheel bolts
Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly in
the direction of the arrow, following the
diagonal sequence illustrated
(1to5), until all bolts are tight.
Observe a tightening torque of
80 lb-ft (110 Nm).
Fully collapse the jack.
Place the vehicle tool kit, electric air
pump, and the jack back in the storage
compartment underneath the trunk
floor.
Wrap the damaged wheel in the protec-
tive sheet provided with the vehicle
tool kit and put the wheel in the trunk.
For information on storing the spare wheel
in the trunk after it has been replaced by a
regular road wheel, see “Storing the spare
wheel with collapsible tire” (
page 385).
Warning!G
Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric
pump (
page 411) before lowering the
vehicle.
Warning!G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. The wheels could come
loose if they are not tightened to a torque of
80 lb-ft (110 Nm).
iThe flat tire may be transported in the trunk
when the retractable hardtop is closed.
421 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.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission*: Do
not tow-start vehicle.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with the SmartKey in the starter switch in
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.
Use the towing eyes.
Switch off the tow-away alarm (
page 91) and
the automatic central locking (
page 102).
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
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
as that will be necessary to adequately
control the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the SmartKey is in
starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in 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,
remove SmartKey from starter switch and
reinsert.
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
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised, the gear selector lever* must be in
positionN (manual transmission: gear shift lever
in neutral position) and the engine must be shut
off (SmartKey in starter switch position0or1).
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 (manual transmission: gear shift lever
in neutral position) 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).