Otherwise, the vehicle's electronic sys-
tem may be damaged.
R in vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is locked in position P
after disconnecting the battery. The vehi-
cle is secured against rolling away. You
can then no longer move the vehicle.
The battery and the cover of the positive
terminal clamp must be fitted securely dur-
ing operation.
In order for the battery to achieve the maxi-
mum possibles ervice life, it must always be
sufficiently charged.
The vehicle battery, like other batteries, can
discharge over time if you do not use the
vehicle. In such cases, have the battery dis-
connected at aqualified specialist workshop.
You can also charge the battery with a
charger recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
For more information, please contact aquali-
fied specialist workshop.
Have the battery charge checked more fre-
quently if you use the vehicle mainly for short
trips or if you leave it standing idle for a
lengthy period. Consult aqualified specialist
workshop if you wish to leave your vehicle
parked up for along period of time.
i When you park the vehicle, remove the
key if you do not require any electrical con-
sumers. The vehicle will then use very little
energy, thus conserving battery power.
i After an interruption of the power supply,
e.g. the battery was discharged, you have
to:
R set the clock. Information on setting the
clock can be found in the separate oper-
ating instructions.
On vehicles with COMAND Online and a
navigation system, the clock is set auto-
matically.
R reset the function for folding the exterior
mirrors in/out automatically, by folding
the mirrors out once (Y page 106). Charging the battery
G
WARNING
Only charge the battery in awell-ventilated
area. As the battery is being charged, gases
can escape and generate minor explosions.
This could injure you and other persons or
cause damage to the paintwork or acid cor-
rosion on the vehicle.
You can obtain information on battery charg-
ers which allow the battery to be charged
while still installed from aqualified specialist
workshop. G
WARNING
There is arisk of acid burns during the charg-
ing process due to the gases which escape
from the battery. Do not lean over the battery
during the charging process. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid contact with the
skin, eyes or clothing.
! Only charge the installed battery with a
battery charger which has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.T hese battery
chargers allow the battery to be charged
while still installed in the vehicle.
! Only use battery chargers with amaxi-
mum charging voltage of 14.8 V.
! Only charge the battery using the jump-
start connection point.
The jump-starting connection point is in the
engine compartment( Ypage 319).
Read the battery charger's operating instruc-
tions before charging the battery.
X Open the bonnet (Y page 296).
X Connect the battery charger to the positive
terminal and earth point in the same order
as when connecting the donor battery in
the jump-starting procedure
(Y page 319). 318
Battery (vehicle)Breakdown assistance
Befor
etowing away ,make sur ethat the steer-
ing can be move dand is not locked.
If yo utow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weigh tmustn ot excee dthe maximum per-
missible gros svehicle weigh tofyour vehicle. G
WARNING
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivate HOLD and DISTRONIC PLUS if the
vehicle is to be towed.
! Only secure the tow rope or towing bar to
the towing eyes. The vehicle may otherwise
be damaged.
! Observe the following points when towing
with atow rope:
R secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R the tow rope must not be longer than is
legally permitted. It should be marked in
the middle, e.g. with awhite cloth
(30 x30c m) so thatothe rroad users are
aware that avehicle is being towed.
R the tow rope may only be attached to the
towing eyes.
R observe the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a
distance so that the tow rope does not
sag.
R do not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. The vehicle could be dam-
aged.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
this could damage the vehicle. If in doubt,
recover the vehicle with acrane.
! When towing, pulla wayslowly and
smoothly .Ifthe tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! To tow vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use
the key instead of the Start/Stop button.
The automatic transmission may otherwise
switch to position Pwhen you open the driver's or front-passenger door which
could damage the transmission.
! You may tow the vehicle for amaximum
of 50km.At owing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
For towing distances over 50 km, the entire
vehicle must be lifted up and transported.
! If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate (Y page 359).
Observe the legal requirements for the rele-
vant countries when towing.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission dam-
age, have it transported on atransporter or
trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in posi-
tion Nwhen the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2
R cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
i Deactivate the automatic locking feature
(Y page 84). You could otherwise be locked
out when pushing or towing the vehicle.
Deactivate tow-away protection
(Y page 71) before the vehicle is towed. Fitting/removing the towing eye
Fitting the towing eye G
WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be hot. You could
burn yourself if you touch the tail pipe. Be Towing and tow-starting
321Breakdown assistance
Z
much more effort to brake and steer the vehi-
cle. Adapt yours tyleofd rivingaccordingly.
It is important tha tyou observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 320).
The automatic transmission automatically
shifts to position Pwhen you open the driver's
or front-passenger door or when you remove
the key from the ignition lock. In order to
ensure that the automatic transmission stays
in position Nwhen towing the vehicle, you
must observe the following points:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the key is in position 0in the ignition
lock.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the key
instead of the Start/Stop button
(Y page 141).
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 114).
X Leave the key in position 2in the ignition
lock.
i When towing with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination
switch as usual to signal achange of direc-
tion. In this case, only the turn signals for
the desired direction flash. When the com-
bination switch is reset, the hazard warning
lamps start flashing again. Transporting the vehicle
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could be damaged. The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto atrailer or transporter for transporting
purposes.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
0and remove the key from the ignition
lock.
X Secure the vehicle. Notes for 4MATIC vehicles
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise,
the transmission may be damaged.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or
damage to the front or rear axle, have it trans-
ported on atransporter or trailer.
In the event of damage to the electrical
system
If the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in position P.To
shift the automatic transmission to position
N,y ou must provide power to the vehicle's
electrical system in the same way as when
jump-starting (Y page 319).
Have the vehicle transported on atransporter
or trailer. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. The transmission
may otherwise be damaged. Towing and tow-starting
323Breakdown assistance Z