2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63AMG tow

425 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.
When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the
vehicle 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
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 automatic central (
page 163)
locking.
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
This is necessary to adequately control the
towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that 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,
remove SmartKey from starter switch and
reinsert.
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the steering system. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that
a considerably higher degree of effort is nec-
essary to steer the vehicle. Adapt your driv-
ing accordingly.
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised, 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 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).

426 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing 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 cover off to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.
!Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt. Nev-
er attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to the
vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iWhen 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 116).
iTo 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
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.
iThe selector lever will remain locked in park
positionP and the SmartKey will not turn in the
starter switch if the battery is disconnected or
discharged. For more information see “Battery”
(
page 420) or “Jump starting” (page 423).
For information on manual unlocking of the gear
selector lever, see (
page 400).

427 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
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 wheel wrench.
To reinstall cover:
Fit cover and snap into place.
Rear of vehicle
2Cover on right side of rear bumperTo remove cover:
Press mark on cover in direction of the
arrow.
Fold cover 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 wheel wrench.
To reinstall cover:
Fit cover and snap into place.

462 Index
Emergency, In case of
Batteries, Jump starting 423
First aid kit 393
Flat tire, changing 412
Fuses 428
Hazard warning flasher 132
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 346
Instrument cluster, indicator
lamps 344
Roadside Assistance 12
Towing the vehicle 344
Emission control 281
Information label 435
System warranties 10
Engine 437
Belt layout 436
Block heater* (Canada only) 329
Break-in recommendations 270
Cleaning 335
Compartment 286
Malfunction indicator lamp 348, 349,
375
Maximum engine speed 437
Number 434, 435
Starting 51Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 52
Tachometer 27
Technical data 437
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 61
Turning off with the SmartKey 61
Engine compartment
Hood 286
Engine coolant see Coolant 290
Engine oil 287, 448
Adding 289
Additives 450
Changing 450
Checking level 288
Consumption 287
Filler neck 289
Messages in display 379
Oil dipstick 288
Recommended engine oils and oil
filters 450
ESP
®92
Messages in display 360, 374
Warning lamp 345, 346
ETD
Safety guidelines 68
Exterior lamp switch 126Exterior rear view mirrors 47
Parking position 184
Exterior view 22
F
Factory settings
Resetting 153
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 106
Filler neck, Engine oil 289
First aid kit 393
Flat tire 412
Collapsible tire 415, 416
Jacking up the vehicle 414
Lowering the vehicle 418
Mounting the spare wheel 412, 415
Preparing the vehicle 412
Spare wheel 412
Floormats 252
Fluids
Automatic transmission fluid 448
Brake fluid 449
Capacities 448
Engine coolant 449
Engine oil 448
Power steering fluid 449
Washer and headlamp cleaning
system 449

469 Index
Parktronic* 234
Activating/deactivating 237
Cleaning system sensors 337
Malfunctioning 237
Minimum distance 235
Range 234
System sensors 337
Warning indicators 25, 236
Warning sounds 237
Parts service 432
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp see
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp
Passenger compartment
Interior lighting 133
Interior rear view mirror 47
Main fuse box 429
Parcel net in the front passenger
footwell 245
Passenger safety see Occupant safety
Pedals 271
Phone see Telephone*
Plastic parts, cleaning 339
Pliers, universal (vehicle tool kit) 395
Poly-V-belt drive
Layout 436Positions (Memory function) see Seats
Power assistance 272
Power outlet 250
Power seat see Seats 43
Power tilt/sliding sunroof 210
Opening/closing 210
Stopping 212
Synchronizing 212
Power washer 334
Power windows 205
Cleaning 338
Operating 205
Rear door window, blocking
operation 87
Side windows 205
Synchronizing 207
Practical hints 344
PRE-SAFE
®
Messages in display 360, 368
Problems
While driving 58
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Production options weight 325
Program mode see Automatic transmis-
sion, Automatic shift programProgram mode selector switch
Automatic shift program 175
PSI 325
Push-start see Tow-start
R
RACETIMER 146
Radio
Selecting stations 149
Selecting stations (satellite*) 149
Radio transmitters 280
Reading lamp
Front 133
Rear 134
Rear door ashtray see Ashtrays 249
Rear door window
Blocking operation 87
Rear fog lamp see Fog lamps
Rear lamp 406
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
Rear seat head restraints see Head re-
straints
Rear storage compartment in the rear cen-
ter console 244
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window defroster 186
Rear window sunshade* 185

473 Index
Temperature
Engine 54
Interior temperature 195
Outside temperature 156
Tether anchorage points, see Children in
the vehicle
Tie-down hooks, Trunk 242
Tightening torque, Wheel bolts 418
Time
Setting 157
Synchronizing 157
TIN 325
Tire and Loading Information
Placard 296
Terminology 323
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 301
Placard on the fuel filler flap 297
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS),
(USA only)
Checking tire pressure
electronically 306
Tires
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System* (Advanced TPMS*) (Canada
only) 309Advanced TPMS* malfunction
telltale 354
Air pressure 301
Care and maintenance 294
Cleaning 295
Combination low tire pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale, USA only 27
Direction of rotation, Spinning 295
Driving instructions 275
Important notes, Tire inflation
pressure 302
Inflation pressure 301, 303
Information placard 297
Inspection 294
Load rating 325
Low tire pressure telltale* (Canada
only) 27, 354
Messages in display 369, 390
MOExtended* 313, 419
Ply composition and material
used 325
Problems with
under-/overinflation 313
Retreads 293
Rims and tires 438
Rotation 326Service life 294
Sizes 439
Snow 328
Snow chains 329
Spare wheel 393
Speed rating 316, 326
Storing 295
Temperature 302, 322
Terminology 323
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) (USA only) 306
TPMS malfunction telltale 354
Traction 276, 322, 326
Tread 326
Tread depth 294, 328
Treadwear indicators 326
Vehicle maximum load on 326
Wear pattern 327
Winter 328
Tools 395
Top tether
Children in the vehicle 85
Total load limit 326
Towing eye bolt 426
Towing the vehicle 425

474 Index
Tow-start 423, 425
Traction 326
Transmission fluid level 289
Transmission gear selector lever see Gear
selector lever
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 280
Tread 326
Tread depth 294, 328
Tread depth (tires) 328
Treadwear indicators 326
Trip computer 164
Trip odometer
Resetting 137
Trunk
Closing the lid 111
Fuse box 429
Lamp 135
Message in display 372
Opening 109, 110
Tie-down hooks 242
Trunk lid emergency release 114
Unlocking in an emergency 399
Valet locking 115
Trunk lid, Unlocking 109Turn signals 55
Additional in mirrors 405
Bulbs 405
Cleaning lenses 337
Indicator lamps 27
Messages in display 387
Replacing bulbs 408
Turning off engine 60
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 326
Units, Settings
Speedometer 155
Temperature 156
Unleaded gasoline, Premium 451
Unlocking 36
In an emergency 398
Mechanical Key 398
Uphill driving, Cruise control 214
Upholstery
Cleaning 340
Useful features 243V
Valet locking 115
Vehicle
Battery 420
Care 333
Control system, settings menu 139
Dimensions 447
Individual settings 152
Locking/unlocking 100
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency 398, 399
Lowering 418
Modifications and alterations, operat-
ing safety 16
Towing 425
Washing 335
Weights 447
Vehicle jack 396
Vehicle level control see Airmatic DC (Dual
Control)
Vehicle lighting
Checking 285