2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S65AMG towing

668 Practical hints
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:

Towing eye bolt

Wheel wrench with socket wrench

Alignment bolt

Pair of gloves

Fuse extractor1


Fuse chart for the main fuse box

Spare fuses1


Collapsible wheel chock

Release tool for mechanically releasing
the electronic parking brake
The spare wheel bolts are fixed at the
Minispare wheel.
!Always keep the storage compartment un-
der the front passenger seat closed while the ve-
hicle is in motion.
iCheck 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.
1Depending on vehicle production date.

700 Practical hints
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 (except
vehicles with 4MATIC) only so far as neces-
sary to have the vehicle moved to a safe
location where the recommended towing
methods can be employed.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC:
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 vehicle with all
wheels on the ground.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
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 ESP
® (page 73) and the auto-
matic central locking (
page 245).
!Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
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
This is necessary to adequately control the
towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is in starter
switch position2.

701 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
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 or with the front axle raised, the start-
er battery must be connected and charged. Oth-
erwise:

you will not be able to switch on the ignition

you will not be able to engage the automatic
transmission in neutral positionN
(
page 402)

you cannot release the electronic parking
brake
For information on charging the starter battery
see “Batteries” (
page 692) or see “Jump start-
ing” (
page 697).
!Make sure that the electronic parking brake
is released. If the electronic parking brake is
malfunctioning, release it mechanically
(
page 673).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised (not permissible for vehicles with
4MATIC), the automatic transmission must be in
positionN and the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 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 automatic transmission must be
shifted to neutral positionN and the SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be in start-
er 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).
!If the vehicle is towed, the 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

the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button and
open a front door
the transmission will shift to park positionP
automatically.

702 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, manually release the
electronic parking brake (
page 395).
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.
Shift the automatic transmission to
park positionP.
Release the brake pedal.
Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button from the starter switch
(
page 345).
Insert the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
into the starter switch.
With the ignition switched on shift the
automatic transmission to neutral
positionN.
If engaged, manually release the
electronic parking brake (
page 395).
Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO in the
starter switch.
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. Unsupervised use
of vehicle equipment could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
iWhen towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in
starter switch position 2, the vehicle doors lock
if the left front wheel as well as the right rear
wheel are turning at vehicle speeds of approxi-
mately 9mph (15km/h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle doors from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 245).
iTo signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 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
warning flasher will operate again.

703 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing 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 668).
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.

741 Index
Dynamic Rear View Monitor* 453
Camera lens 590
Cleaning camera lens 590
Parallel parking 458
Reverse parking
(back-in parking) 456
Switching on 456
View through the camera 454
E
Easy-entry/exit feature 357
COMAND menu 246
EBP 71
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical outlet see Power outlet
Electrical system, Technical Data 722
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic parking brake 395
Indicator lamp 29, 600
Mechanically releasing 673
Messages in display 633
Warning lamp 29, 600
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic traction system 72
Emergency call system 510
Emergency calls, Tele Aid 511
Emergency engine shut-down 707
Emergency operation
(limp-home mode) 416
Emergency operations
Locking the vehicle 671
Mechanically releasing the electronic
parking brake 673
Releasing from inside 484
Remote door lock 517
Remote door unlock 517
Tilt/sliding sunroof or tilt/sliding
panel* 674
Unlocking the trunk 672
Unlocking the vehicle 671
Emergency tensioning device see ETDEmergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 697
First aid kit 668
Flat tire 686
Fuses 704
Roadside Assistance 16
Roadside Assistance (Tele Aid) 513
Towing the vehicle 700
Emission control 536
Emission control information label 713
Emission control system warranties 14
Engine
Belt layout 714
Cleaning 587
Compartment 541
Coolant 547, 726, 730
Malfunction indicator lamp 29, 602
Number 712, 713
Oil 546, 724, 728
Oils 543
Residual heat and ventilation 476
Starting 389
Technical data 715
Turning off 397

756 Index
Information placard 554
Inspection 551
Load rating 569, 578
Load rating, Maximum 573, 577
Minispare wheel 670
Ply composition and material
used 578
Problems under-/overinflation 558
Retreads 550
Rotating 578
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 565
Service life 551
Sizes 718
Snow 580
Spare wheel 721
Speed rating 532, 570, 578
Storing 552
Temperature 559, 575
Terminology 576
Total load limit 578
TPMS* malfunction telltale 29, 608
Traction 532, 578
Tread depth 552
Tread depth, Winter 580
Treadwear indicators 578
Vehicle maximum load on 578Wear pattern 579
Winter 580
Tools 668
Top tether
Children in the vehicle 61
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 668,
703
Towing the vehicle 700
Tow-start 697, 700
Traction 532, 574, 578
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 535
Tread 578
Tread depth, Tires 552
Tread depth, Winter tires 580
Treadwear indicators 578
Trip odometer 268
Resetting 269
Troubleshooting
Voice Control* 327
Trunk
Closing 479, 671
Closing trunk from inside 479
Closing trunk from outside 479
Emergency release 484
Lighting 380Message in display 667
Opening from inside 479
Opening from outside 479
Opening-height restriction
(COMAND) 249
Power closing assist for trunk lid 342
Tie-down hooks 500
Unlocking in an emergency 671
Valet locking 484
Tumbler holder see Cup holder
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 589
Replacing bulbs 679
Turn signals 393
Additional in mirrors 679
Front bulbs 679
Indicator lamp 29
Rear bulbs 679

757 Index
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 578
Uphill driving
Cruise control 421
Upholstery
Cleaning 595
Useful features 502
V
Valet locking 484
Vanity mirrors
In the sun visor 502
Vehicle
Batteries 692
Breaking-in period 526
Care 585
Dimensions 723
Individual settings, control system in
instrument cluster 281
Locking/unlocking 332, 335
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency 671
Lowering 690
Menu (COMAND) 242Service battery 692
Towing 700
Washing 585, 587
Weights 723
Vehicle data recording 22
Vehicle jack 669, 687
Vehicle level
Changing (ABC*) 443
Changing (Airmatic) 441
Setting (ABC*) 443
Setting (Airmatic) 441
Setting, Automatic (ABC*) 443
Setting, Automatic (Airmatic) 441
Setting, Manual (ABC*) 443
Setting, Manual (Airmatic) 441
Vehicle level control (Airmatic) 441
Vehicle loading 493, 553
Cargo tie-down hooks 500
Instructions 493
Load limit 554
Roof rack* 493
Terminology 576
Vehicle maximum load on the tire 578
Vehicle Recovery services, Stolen (Tele
Aid) 518
Vehicle tool kit 668Video (COMAND) 124
Video DVD
Menu 129
Operating (COMAND) 124
operating (Control system) 272
Pause/Play 128
Screen settings 128
Selecting scene/chapter 128
Setting language 131
Subemu overview 126
Submenu overview 126
Switching to mode 126
Video game 131
VIN 713
Voice Control*
Address book 306
Command list 315
DVD changer 313
Individualization 330
Individualization (COMAND) 237
Introduction 285
Navigation 296
Operating safety 284
Operation via the multifunction steer-
ing wheel 287
Radio 309