2013 MERCEDES-BENZ R-CLASS FAMILY TOURER tow

Use care products and cleaning agents
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. This could cause an accident. For
this reason, you must drive particularly
carefully after washing the vehicle until the
brakes have dried.
! Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and the sliding sunroof
are fully closed.
R the ventilation/heating is switched off
(the OFF button has been pressed).
R the windshield wiper switch is in position
0.
Otherwise, the vehicle might be damaged.
! In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission
is in transmission position N, otherwise the
vehicle could be damaged.
R Vehicles with a SmartKey:
Do not remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock. Do not open the driver's
door or front-passenger door when the
engine is switched off. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission selects park
position Pautomatically and locks the
wheels. You can prevent this by shifting
the automatic transmission to N
beforehand.
R Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO:
Do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position
P
automatically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N:
X Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
X Turn the SmartKey to position
2(Y page 149) in the ignition lock.
Use the SmartKey instead of the Start/
Stop button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windshield and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the
windshield.
Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements in all
countries concerned.
X
Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X Use a soft sponge to clean.
X Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a
gentle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards
the air inlets. 290
CareMaintenance and care

Cleaning the trailer tow hitch
H
Environmental note
Dispose of rags soaked in oil and grease in an
environmentally responsible manner.
! Do no tclean the ball coupling with a
power washer. Do not use solvents.
! Observe the note on care provided by the
trailer manufacturer. :
Ball coupling
; Locking balls
= Guide pin
? Guide faces
A Release lever
B Cover cap
The ball coupling must be cleaned if it
becomes dirty or corroded.
X Remove rust, e.g. with a wire brush.
X Remove dirt with a clean ,lint-free cloth or
a brush.
X Lightly oil or grease positions :toB and
the ball coupling recess of the vehicle after
cleaning.
X Treat the lock under protective cap Bwith
an acid-free and resin-free oil.
X Check that the vehicle's trailer tow hitch is
working properly.
i You can also have the maintenance work
on the ball coupling and the trailer tow hitch
carried out by a qualified specialist
workshop. Interior care
Cleaning the display !
For cleaning, do not use any of the
following:
R alcohol-based thinner or gasoline
R abrasive cleaning agents
R commercially-available household
cleaning agents
These may damage the display surface. Do
not put pressure on the display surface
when cleaning. This could lead to
irreparable damage to the display.
X Before cleaning the display, make sure that
it is switched off and has cooled down.
X Clean the display surface using a
commercially available microfiber cloth
and TFT/LCD display cleaner.
X Dry the display surface using a dry
microfiber cloth.
Cleaning the plastic trim G
WARNING
When cleaning the steering wheel boss and
dashboard, do not use cockpit sprays or
cleaning agents containing solvents. Cleaning
agents containing solvents cause the surface
to become porous, and as aresult, plastic
parts may break away and be thrown around
the interior when an air bag is deployed, which
may result in severe injuries.
! Do not affix the following to plastic
surfaces:
R stickers
R films
R scented oil bottles or similar items
You can otherwise damage the plastic.
! Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent
or sunscreen to come into contact with the
plastic trim .This maintains the high-quality
look of the surfaces. 294
CareMaintenance and care

Useful information
............................298
Where will I find...? ...........................298
Flat tire .............................................. 299
Battery( vehicle)................................ 301
Jump-starting .................................... 304
Towing and tow-starting ..................306
Fuses .................................................. 308 297Breakdown assistance

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 Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Y page 24).Where will I find...?
First-aid kit
Example: vehicles with BlueTEC
The first-aid kit can be found under the cargo
compartment floor in the vehicle tool kit
stowage tray. Depending on the vehicle's
equipment, the location of the first-aid kit
may differ slightly from that shown in the
example illustration.
X
Open the tailgate.
X Lift the cargo compartment floor up
(Y page 298).
X Remove first-aid kit :.
i Check the expiration date on the first-aid
kit at least once a year. Replace the
contents if necessary, and replace missing
items. Vehicle tool kit
General notes The vehicle tool kit can be found in the
stowage well under the cargo compartment
floor.
i
Apart from certain country-specific
variations, vehicles are not equipped with
a tire-change tool kit. Some tools for
changing a wheel are specific to the
vehicle. For more information on which
tools are required to perfor mawheel
change on your vehicle, consult a qualified
specialist workshop.
Necessary wheel-changing tools can
include, for example:
R Jack
R Wheel chock
R Lug wrench
R Ratchet wrench
R Alignment bolt
Lifting up the cargo compartment floor X
Press release handle ;in the direction of
the arrow.
X Lift cargo compartment floor :up by
release handle ;.298
Where will I find...?Breakdown assistance

X
Fold ou thook =on the underside of the
cargo compartment floor. X
Attach hook =to the cargo
compartment's upper seal ?.
Vehicles with aTIREFIT kit :
Lug wrench
; Towing eye
= Alignmen tbolt
? Jack
A Folding wheel chock B
Fuse allocation chart
C Ratchet wrench
X Lift the cargo compartment floor up
(Y page 298).
Vehicles with acollapsible spare wheel :
Lug wrench
; Tire inflatio ncompressor
= Instructions on the installation position of
the vehicle tool kit holder
? Fuse allocation chart
A Alignmen tbolt
B Folding wheel chock
C Towing eye
D Wheel bolts
E Stowage well
F Ratchet wrench
G Jack
X Lift the cargo compartment floor up
(Y page 298). Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Information on changing/mounting a wheel
(Y page 334).
Vehicle preparation is not necessary on
vehicles with MOExtended tires. Flat tire
299Breakdown assistance

Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing ba rif:
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 maximumf orce.
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.
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
! Observe the following points when towing
with a tow 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 a white cloth
(30 x30c m) so thatothe rroad users are
aware that a vehicle 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
damaged. !
Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
this could damage the vehicle. If in doubt,
recover the vehicle with acrane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly .Ifthe tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! When towing vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
use the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission may shift to position Pwhen
the driver's or front-passenger door are
opened, which could lead to damage to the
transmission.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of
30 mph (50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles (50km), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
! If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum
permissible gross vehicle weight of your
vehicle.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate (Y page 349).
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission
damage, have it transported on a transporter
or trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in
position Nwhen the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the SmartKey to position 2in
the ignition lock
R cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
i Deactivate the automatic locking feature
(Y page 209). You could otherwise be 306
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye G
WARNING
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. Example: towing eye mounting covers
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch: if possible,
fasten the towbar to the trailer tow hitch
(Y
page 193).
The brackets for the screw-in towing eyes are
located in the bumpers. They are at the front
and at the rear, under the covers.
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit (Y page 298).
X Press the mark on cover :inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
X Take cover :off the opening.
X Screw the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it. Removing the towing eye X
Loosen the towing eye and unscrew it.
X Attach cover :to the bumper and press
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit. Towing
avehicle with both axles on
the ground G
WARNING
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.
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 306).
The automatic transmission automatically
shifts to position Pwhen 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 Nwhen towing
the vehicle, you must observe the following
points:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the SmartKey in the ignition lock is in
position 0.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the
SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop button
(Y page 149).
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake. Towing and tow-starting
307Breakdown assistance Z

X
Leave the SmartKey in position 2in the
ignition lock.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 124).
i In order to signal a change of direction
when towing the vehicle with the hazard
warning lamps switched on, use the
combination switch as usual. In this case,
only the turn signals for the desired
direction flash.W hen you reset the
combination switch, 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.
Otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged.
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.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position 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
position P.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0in the
ignition lock and remove it.
X Secure the vehicle. Information on 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 304).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer. Recovering
avehicle that has become
stuck
! Pull away smoothly, slowly, and in a
straigh tline when pulling out a vehicle that
has become stuck. Excessive tractive
power could damage the vehicles.
If the drive wheels get trapped on loose or
muddy ground, recover the vehicle with the
utmost care, especially so if the vehicle is
laden.
Never attempt to recover a vehicle with a
trailer attached.
Pull out the vehicle backwards, if possible,
using the tracks it made when it became
stuck. Tow-starting (emergency starting)
! Vehicles with an automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. You could
otherwise damage the automatic
transmission.
You can find information on "Jump-starting"
at (Y page 304). Fuses
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Only use fuses that have been approved for
Mercedes-Ben zvehicles and that have the
correct fuse rating for the systems 308
FusesBreakdown assistance