If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehicle. G
Risk of accident
The vehicle is braked when Hold or Distronic
Plus* is activated. Therefore, deactivate
HOLD and Distronic Plus if the vehicle is to be
towed.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
When towing, observe the legal requirements
in all countries concerned.
! Make sure that the electric parking brake
is released. If the electric parking brake is
faulty, consult a qualified specialist work-
shop. Mercedes-Benz recommends that
you use a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
! When towing, pull away slowly and with-
out jerking. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
as this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
For towing distances over 50 km, the entire
vehicle must be lifted up and transported.
! On vehicles with KEYLESS GO*, use the
key instead of the Start/Stop button. Turn
the key to position 2in the ignition lock and
set the automatic transmission to N. Then
turn the key back to 0and leave it in the
ignition lock.
! Only secure the tow cable or towing bar
to the towing eyes. You could otherwise
damage the vehicle. R
Tow-starting the vehicle is not permitted.
R Vehicles with 4MATIC* must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised.
R If the engine does not start, try jump-start-
ing it (Y page 384).
R If it is not possible to jump-start the vehicle,
have it towed to the nearest qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
R If the vehicle has suffered transmission
damage, only tow it with the propeller shaft
disconnected.
R The automatic transmission DIRECT
SELECT lever must be in the Nposition
when towing the vehicle.
R The ignition must be switched off if you are
towing the vehicle with the front/rear axle
raised. Otherwise, intervention by ESP ®
could damage the brake system.
R Before towing the vehicle, make sure that
the battery is connected and charged. Oth-
erwise:
- you cannot switch on the ignition.
- you cannot move the DIRECT SELECT
lever to N.
- you have no support when braking.
R On vehicles with KEYLESS GO*, use the key
instead of the Start/Stop button
(Y page 182).
i Switch off the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 167).
Otherwise, you could be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle. Towing and tow-starting
387Practical advice
* optional
216_AKB; 2; 3, en-GB
bjanott,
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Fitting the towing eye
Opening the covers The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are located
at the front and rear behind covers. X
Press cover :inwards on the marking in
the direction of the arrow.
X Take cover :off the opening.
Securing the towing eye X
Take the towing eye and the wheel wrench
from the vehicle tool kit (Y page 315).
X Screw in the towing eye clockwise to the
stop.
X Insert the wheel wrench handle into the
towing eye and tighten it. Towing the vehicle
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
For towing distances over 50 km, the entire
vehicle must be lifted up and transported. !
Vehicles with 4MATIC* may not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised.
! The engine must be switched off (key in
ignition lock in position 0or position 1) if
the vehicle is being towed with the front
axle raised or if the parking brake is being
tested on a dynamometer. Otherwise,
intervention by ESP ®
could damage the
brake system.
X Turn the key to position 2(Y page 182) in
the ignition lock.
i On vehicles with KEYLESS GO*: use the
key instead of the start-stop button.
X Move the DIRECT SELECT lever to the N
position. Removing the towing eye
X Take the wheel wrench from the vehicle
tool kit (Y page 315).
X Insert the wheel wrench handle into the
towing eye and turn it anti-clockwise.
X Unscrew the towing eye.
X Replace the cover and press it until it
engages.
X Return the towing eye and the wheel
wrench to the vehicle tool kit. Transporting the vehicle
The towing eyes or trailer coupling *can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or trans-
porter if you wish to transport it.
! Only secure the vehicle by the wheels or
wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle such
as axle or steering components. Otherwise,
the vehicle could be damaged. 388
Towing and tow-startingPractical advice
* optional
216_AKB; 2; 3, en-GB
bjanott,
Version: 2.11.7.7 2009-02-27T14:54:17+01:00 - Seite 388
Dateiname: 6515230602_buchblock.pdf; erzeugt am 04. Mar 2009 11:16:53; WK
