2012 MERCEDES-BENZ R-Class Engine

Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
R the engine is not running.
R there is a brake system malfunction.
R there is a malfunction in the power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will need more
force to steer and brake, you may have to
depress the brake pedal with maximum force.
Before towing away, make sure that the
steering can be moved and is not locked.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum
permissible gross vehicle weight of your
vehicle.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
! You may only tow the vehicle a maximum
distance of 30 miles (50 km). A towing
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not be
exceeded.
For towing distances over 30 miles
(50 km), the vehicle must loaded onto a
transporter.
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle 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.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! When towing vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
use the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission may shift to position P when
the driver's or front-passenger door are
opened, which could lead to damage to the
transmission.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission
damage, have it transported on a transporter
or trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in
position N when the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the SmartKey to position 2 in
the ignition lock
R cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
i Before the vehicle is towed, switch off the
automatic locking feature ( Y page 208).
You could otherwise be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch: if possible
secure the towing device on the trailer tow
hitch ( Y page 191).
XRemove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit ( Y page 296).GWARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be hot. You could
burn yourself if you touch the tail pipe. Be
particularly careful when removing the rear
cover.
The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are at the
front and at the rear, under the covers.
Towing and tow-starting315Breakdown assistanceZ

XPress the mark on cover : inwards in the
direction of the arrow.XTake cover : off the opening.XScrew the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye
XLoosen the towing eye and unscrew it.XAttach cover : to the bumper and press
until it engages.XPlace the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit.
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
When having your vehicle towed, observe the
important safety notes ( Y page 315).
GWARNING
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will then need
much more effort to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your style of driving
accordingly.
The automatic transmission automatically
shifts to position P when you open the driver's
or front-passenger door or when you remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock. In order
to ensure that the automatic transmission
stays in position N when towing the vehicle,
you must observe the following points:XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the SmartKey in the ignition lock is in
position 0.XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the key
instead of the Start/Stop button
( Y page 145).XDepress and hold the brake pedal.XShift the automatic transmission to
position N.XRelease the brake pedal.XRelease the parking brake.XLeave the SmartKey in position 2 in the
ignition lock.
Transporting the vehicle
The towing eyes or trailer tow hitch can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or
transporter if you wish to transport it.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XShift the automatic transmission to
position N.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the parking brake.XShift the automatic transmission to
position P.XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove the SmartKey
from the ignition lock.XSecure the vehicle.
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
316Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

such as axle or steering components.
Otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged.
Notes for 4MATIC vehicles
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or
damage to the front or rear axle, have it
transported on a transporter 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 , you must provide power to the vehicle's
electrical system in the same way as when
jump-starting ( Y page 313).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer.
Recovering a vehicle that has become
stuck
! Pull away smoothly, slowly, and in a
straight line when pulling out a vehicle that
has become stuck. Excessive tractive
power could damage the vehicles.
If the drive wheels have become stuck in
loose or muddy ground, pull the vehicle out
with extreme caution, particularly if it is
laden.
Never attempt to recover a stuck vehicle with
a trailer attached.
Pull out the vehicle backwards, if possible
using the tracks it made when it became
stuck.
Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be started by tow-starting. This
could otherwise damage the transmission.
Fuses
Important safety notes
The fuses in your vehicle serve to close down
faulty circuits. If a fuse blows, all the
components on the circuit and their functions
stop operating.
GWARNING
Only use fuses approved by Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system in
question and do not attempt to repair or
bridge a blown fuse. Using other than
approved fuses or using repaired or bridged
fuses may cause an overload leading to a fire,
and/or cause damage to electrical
components and/or systems. Have the cause
determined and remedied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognize by
the color and value. The fuse ratings are listed
in the fuse allocation chart. An authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center will be happy to
advise you.
i If a fuse has blown, contact a breakdown
service or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If the newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
! Only use fuses that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which
have the correct fuse rating for the system
concerned. Otherwise, components or
systems could be damaged.
Before changing a fuse
XPark the vehicle and apply the parking
brake.XSwitch off all electrical consumers.XRemove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.Fuses317Breakdown assistanceZ

The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
R fuse box on the front-passenger side of the
dashboard
R fuse box in the engine compartment on the
right-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed
in the direction of travel
R fuse box in the stowage well under the
trunk floor
The fuse allocation chart is located in the
vehicle tool kit ( Y page 296) in the stowage
compartment under the trunk floor.
Dashboard fuse box
! Do not use a pointed object such as a
screwdriver to open the cover in the
dashboard. You could damage the
dashboard or the cover.
XTo open: pull cover : upwards in the
direction of the arrow and remove it.XTo close: clip in cover : on top of the
dashboard.XFold cover : inwards until it engages.
Fuse box in the engine compartment
XOpen the hood ( Y page 282).XRemove any existing moisture from the
fuse box using a dry cloth.XTo open: open clamp :.XFold up cover ; and remove it.
!
Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
XTo close: check whether the seal is lying
correctly in cover ;.XInsert cover ; into the retainer at the front
of the fuse box.XFold down cover ; and close clamp :.
!
The cover must be positioned properly.
Moisture or dirt could otherwise impair the
operation of the fuses.
XClose the hood ( Y page 283).
Fuse box in the cargo compartment
XOpen the tailgate.318FusesBreakdown assistance

XTo open: open the trunk floor and secure
it ( Y page 296).XFold cover : to the left in the direction of
the arrow.
Engine emergency off
If the engine cannot be switched off as
described, observe the following procedure:
XTake the fuse allocation chart out of the
vehicle tool kit ( Y page 296).XSearch for fuse 120 in the fuse allocation
chart.XOpen the fuse box in the engine
compartment ( Y page 318).XRemove fuse 120.Fuses319Breakdown assistanceZ

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops ( Y page 24).
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts
All Mercedes-Benz Centers maintain a supply
of genuine Mercedes-Benz parts for
necessary service and repair work. In
addition, strategically located parts delivery
centers provide for quick and reliable parts
service.
There are more than 300,000 different
genuine Mercedes-Benz parts available for
Mercedes-Benz models.
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts are subject to
strict quality control. Each part has been
specially developed, manufactured or
selected for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
fine-tuned for them.
Therefore, only genuine Mercedes-Benz parts
should be used.
GWARNING
Driving safety may be impaired if non-
approved parts, tires and wheels or safety-
relevant accessories are used.
This could lead to malfunctions in safety-
relevant systems, e.g. the brake system. This
could cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and cause an accident.
For this reason, Mercedes-Benz recommends
that you use genuine Mercedes-Benz parts or
parts of equal quality. Only use tires, wheels
and accessories that have been specifically
approved for your vehicle.
! Air bags and Emergency Tensioning
Devices, as well as control units and
sensors for these restraint systems may be
installed in the following areas of your
vehicle:
R doors
R door pillars
R door sills
R seats
R dashboard
R instrument cluster
R center console
Do not install accessories such as audio
systems in these areas. Do not carry out
repairs or welding. You could impair the
operating efficiency of the restraint
systems.
Have aftermarket accessories installed at
a qualified specialist workshop. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for this
purpose.HEnvironmental note
Daimler AG also supplies reconditioned major
assemblies and parts which are of the same
quality as new parts. They are covered by the
same Limited Warranty entitlements as new
parts.
Always specify the vehicle identification
number (VIN) ( Y page 353) and the engine
number ( Y page 354) when ordering genuine
Mercedes-Benz parts.
Warranty
The Service and Warranty Information
booklet contains detailed information about
the warranties covering your vehicle.
352WarrantyTechnical data

Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
exchange or repair any defective parts
originally installed in the vehicle in
accordance with the terms of the following
warranties:
R New Vehicle Limited Warranty
R Emission System Warranty
R Emission Performance Warranty
R California, Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island and Vermont Emission
Control Systems Warranty 44
R State Warranty Enforcement Laws (Lemon
Laws)
Replacement parts and accessories are
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Parts and
Accessories warranties. You can obtain
information about this from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
i Should you lose your Service and
Warranty Information booklet, have an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center arrange
for a replacement. It will be mailed to you.
Identification plates
Vehicle identification plate with
vehicle identification number (VIN)
and paint code number
XOpen the driver's door.
You will see vehicle identification plate :.
Example: vehicle identification plate (USA only)
;Paint code=VIN
Example: vehicle identification plate (Canada only)
;Paint code=VIN
i
The data shown on the identification plate
is example data. This data is different for
every vehicle and can deviate from the data
shown here. You can find the data
applicable to your vehicle on the vehicle's
identification plate.
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
The vehicle identification number (VIN) can
be found in the following locations:
R on the vehicle identification plate
( Y page 353)
R on the lower edge of the windshield
( Y page 354)
44
Only vehicles with a gasoline engine.Identification plates353Technical dataZ

In addition to being stamped on the vehicle
identification plate, the vehicle identification
number (VIN) is also stamped onto the vehicle
body.
It is located on the floor in front of the right-
hand seat in the second row of seats.XSlide right-hand seat : of the second row
to its rearmost position.XFold floor covering = upwards.
You will see vehicle identification number
(VIN) ;.
Engine number
:Emission control information plate,
including the certification of both federal
and Californian emissions standards;Engine number (stamped into the
crankcase)=VIN (on the lower edge of the windshield)Service products and capacities
Important safety notes
Service products include the following:
R fuels (e.g. gasoline, diesel)
R additives for exhaust gas aftertreatment
(DEF)
R lubricants (e.g. engine oil, transmission oil)
R coolant
R brake fluid
R windshield washer fluid
Vehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. You should therefore
only use products that have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Information on tested and approved products
can be obtained at a Mercedes-Benz Center
or on the Internet at http://
www.mbusa.com (USA only).
GWARNING
Comply with all valid regulations with respect
to handling, storing and disposing of service
fluids. Otherwise, you could endanger
persons or the environment.
Keep service fluids out of the reach of
children.
For health reasons, you should prevent
service fluids from coming into direct contact
with your skin or clothing.
If a service fluid is swallowed, contact a
physician immediately.
354Service products and capacitiesTechnical data