and easier on both vehicles than using a tow rope. A tow rope should
be used only if a tow bar is not available.
The tow rope should be flexible enough to help protect both vehicles
from damage. Use a synthetic fiber rope or similar rope.
Attach the tow rope or tow bar only to the towing eye included in the
vehicle tool kit for this purpose, or to a trailer hitch.
Towing manual transmission vehicles
Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see below ⇒ When
not to tow your vehicle
If yes, not the following for the towed vehicle:
Shift the gearshift lever to Neutral ⇒ Shifting.
Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).
Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).
Towing automatic transmission vehicles
Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see below ⇒ When
not to tow your vehicle
If yes, not the following for the towed vehicle:
Put the transmission in Neutral (N).
Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).
Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).
When a commercial tow truck is being used, the vehicle must only
be towed with the front wheels lifted off the ground.
Follow the special instructions for towing vehicles with all-wheel
drive (4MOTION).
Towing vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION)
Vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION) should be towed with a tow
bar or a tow rope. If the vehicle is towed with the front or rear axles
lifted off the ground, the engine must be switched off. Otherwise the
powertrain may be damaged.
For vehicles with the DSG® Direct Shift Gearbox, also follow the di-
rections on how to tow a vehicle with automatic transmission ⇒ Tow-
ing automatic transmission vehicles.
When not to tow your vehicle
In the following situations, the vehicle cannot be towed and must be
transported on a flatbed truck or trailer:
If transmission fluid has leaked out of the transmission.
If there is little or no oil in the transmission because of damage to
your vehicle, it must be moved with the drive wheels off the ground.
If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.
When the vehicle battery is dead, because the steering may remain
disabled and it may not be possible to release the electronic steering
column lock. If the electronic parking brake was engaged when the
battery died, it cannot be released.
If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than
30 miles (50 km).
Towing other vehicles
Obey all legal requirements
Read and heed all towing information in the owner's manual for the
other vehicle.
A vehicle can be towed only if the electronic parking brake and
the electronic steering column lock are released. In case of a power
loss or malfunctions of the electrical system, the engine may have to
be jump-started ⇒ Jump-starting in order to release the electronic
parking brake and the electronic steering column lock.
Installing the front towing eye
Fig. 212 In the right front bumper: Removing the cover cap.
