2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 tow

513 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.If circumstances do not permit the recom-
mended towing methods, the vehicle may
be towed with all wheels on the ground
only so far as necessary to have the vehicle
moved to a safe location where the recom-
mended towing methods can be employed.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, 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).
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment,
with the 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.
Use the towing eyes.
Switch off the ESP
® (page 104) and the
automatic central locking (
page 126).
!Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so
could damage the transfer case, which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground. Observe
instructions for towing the vehicles with all
wheels on the ground.
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 vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the automatic trans-
mission is in neutral positionN.

514 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
If you want the gear position to remain in
neutral positionN, observe the following
instructions.Vehicles with SmartKey:
With the vehicle at a standstill and the
ignition switched on, shift the
automatic transmission to neutral
positionN.
If engaged, release the parking brake
(
page 56).
Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
With the ignition switched on shift the
automatic transmission to park
positionP.
Release the brake pedal.
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.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, the automatic transmission must be
in neutral positionN.
If you turn off the engine

using the SmartKey and

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or

open a front door

or when using the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button and open a front door
the automatic transmission will shift to park
positionP automatically.
Warning!G
When leaving the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch, do
not leave children unattended in the vehicle.
It is possible for children to switch on the
ignition which could result in unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment.
A child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.

515 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Remove the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button from the starter switch
(
page 41).
Insert the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* into the starter switch.
Switch on the ignition.
Depress the brake pedal.
Shift the automatic transmission to
neutral positionN.
Release the brake pedal.
If engaged, release the parking brake
(
page 56).
Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in the
starter switch.
Installing towing eye bolt
Depending on whether you are towing a
vehicle or you are being towed, the towing
eye bolt can be screwed into threaded
holes which are located behind covers on
the right-hand side of each bumper.
Example illustration R 550 4MATIC
1Towing eye cover
!Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach a tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
the vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iTo signal turns while being towed with
hazard warning flasher in use, set the starter
switch to position2 and activate combination
switch for left or right turn signal in usual manner
– only the selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard warn-
ing flasher will operate again.

516 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Example illustration R 550 4MATIC
1Towing eye coverRemoving cover
Press mark on cover1 as indicated by
the arrow.
Lift off cover1 to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.
Installing towing eye bolt
Take the towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench from the vehicle tool kit
(
page 469).
Screw towing eye bolt in to 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 the towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench back into the vehicle tool kit
(
page 469).
Installing cover
Engage towing eye cover1 at top and
press at bottom.
Warning!G
In order to avoid possible serious burns or
injury, use extreme caution when removing
the cover, because the rear exhaust pipe is
extremely hot.

517 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Stranded vehicle
Freeing a stranded vehicle, on which the
wheels are dug into sand or mud, should
be done with the greatest of care, espe-
cially if the vehicle is heavily loaded.
Avoid pulling the vehicle abruptly or diago-
nally, since it could result in damage to the
chassis alignment.
Never try to free a vehicle that is still cou-
pled to a trailer.
If possible, a vehicle equipped with trailer
hitch receiver should be pulled backward
in its own previously made tracks.

550 Index
Drinking and driving 339
Driving 50
Abroad 348
Hydroplaning 344
In winter 346, 398
Instructions 50, 339
Problems 62
Safety systems 99
Systems 257
Through standing water 347
With Distronic* 273
Driving off 56
Driving safety systems
ABS 99
BAS 101
EBP 105
ESP
®101
ETS/4-ETS 103
Driving systems 257
AIRMATIC* 276
Cruise control 257
Distronic* (Canada only) 262
Parktronic* 281
Rear view camera* 285
Driving tips 197
Kickdown 197E
Easy-entry/exit feature* 128
Control system 184
EBP 105
Indicator and warning lamps 416
Electric air pump 499
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical system, Technical data 533
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic Traction System see ETS/4-ETS
Emergency calls
Tele Aid* 323
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 511
First aid kit 467
Flat tire 492
Fuses 518
Hazard warning flasher 150
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 414–422
Roadside Assistance 12, 325
Towing the vehicle 513Emergency operation
Locking/unlocking the vehicle 474
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid* 328
Tailgate, Opening from the
inside 120
Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode) 202
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emission control 350
Information label 525
System warranties 10
Engine
Belt layout 526
Break-in recommendations 338
Cleaning 405
Compartment 356
Malfunction indicator lamp 29, 417
Maximum engine speed 155, 527
Number 525
Starting 53
Tachometer 29, 155
Technical data 527
Turning off 66

551 Index
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 358, 538
Adding 359, 538
Additives 538
Changing 359, 538
Checking level 358
Consumption 358
Filler neck 359
Recommended engine oils and
filters 538
ESP
®101
Messages in the multifunction
display 435–436
Warning lamp 27, 419
ETD 85
Safety guidelines 74
ETS/4-ETS 103
Extending cargo compartment 292
Exterior rear view mirrors 48, 203
Power folding* 204
Synchronizing 204F
Fastening the seat belts 50
Filler neck, Engine oil 359
First aid kit 467
Flat tire 492
Collapsible tire 471, 498, 532
Jacking up the vehicle 493
Lowering the vehicle 501
Mounting the spare wheel 498
Preparing the vehicle 493
Spare wheel 471, 498, 532
Floormats 335
Fluids
Automatic transmission
fluid 360, 536
Brake fluid 355, 536, 539
Capacities 536
Engine coolant 355, 360, 537, 541
Engine oil 358, 536, 538
Power steering fluid 536
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning* system 362, 538Fog lamp, Front see Corner-illuminating
front fog lamps*
Fog lamp, Rear 147
Messages in the multifunction
display 458
Replacing bulbs 480
Fog lamps 146
4MATIC see Permanent four-wheel
drive 281
Front air bags 75
Front defroster 214, 229
Front lamps see Headlamps
Front passenger front
air bag 75, 77, 82, 425
Front passenger front air bag
off indicator lamp 31, 75, 77, 82, 425
Front seat head restraints see
Head restraints
Front towing eye 515

559 Index
Power windows
Cleaning 409
Convenience closing feature 245
Door windows 241
Hinged quarter windows* 243
Opening/closing 241
Rear door windows, Blocking
operation 97
Summer opening feature 244
Synchronizing, Door windows 244
Practical hints 413
Premium unleaded gasoline 539
Problems
While driving 62
With starting see Starting difficulties
With the vehicle 17
Product information 9
Production options weight 395
Program mode see Automatic transmis-
sion, Automatic shift program
Program mode selector switch
Automatic shift program 200
PSI 395
Push-starting see Tow-startingQ
Quarter windows see Power windows
R
Radio
AUDIO menu, Control system 166
Selecting station 166
Selecting station (satellite*) 166
Radio transmitters 348
Range (distance to empty) 187
Reading lamp 151, 152
Rear automatic climate control* 236
Rear center console* 315
Rear climate control* 220
Rear door window sunshade* 207
Rear door windows
Blocking operation 97
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
Rear seat ashtray see Ashtrays 311
Rear seat head restraints see Head
restraints 135
Rear towing eye 516Rear view camera* 285
Cleaning 408
Lens, Cleaning 408
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear view mirrors, Automatic
antiglare* 203
Rear window defroster 207
Rear window wiper/washer 61
Rear windows see Power windows
Recommended tire inflation
pressure 395
Recovery services, Stolen vehicle (Tele
Aid*) 329
Refrigerant, Air conditioning 538
Refueling 352
Regular checks 354
Reminder, Seat belt see Seat belts, Telltale
Remote control
SmartKey 110
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 113
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid* 328