They must be collected sep-
arately and disposed of in an
environmentally responsible
recycling system. Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or to a col-
lection point for used batter-
ies.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the Service
Booklet or contact a qualified specialist
workshop for more information.
! Always have work on the batteries carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Should it, in exceptional circumstances, be absolutely necessary to disconnect the 12-
volt battery yourself, please observe the
following:
R secure the vehicle to prevent it from roll-
ing away.
R switch off the engine and remove the
key. Make sure the ignition is switched
off. Check that all the indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster are off. Otherwise,
you may damage electronic components such as the alternator, for example.
R first, disconnect the negative terminal
clamp, followed by the positive terminal
clamp. Never swap the terminal clamps.
The vehicle electronics may otherwise be
damaged.
R 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 batteries and the covers of the positive
terminal clamps must always be fitted
securely during operation.
Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries. Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries. WARNING
Fire, naked flames and smoking
are prohibited when handling the
battery. Avoid creating sparks. Battery acid is caustic. Avoid con-
tact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective clothing,
in particular gloves, an apron and a face mask.
Immediately rinse acid splashes
off with clean water. Consult a doc-tor if necessary. Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Owner's Manual.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which have been tested and approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz. These batteries provide
increased impact protection to prevent vehi-
cle occupants from suffering acid burns
should the battery be damaged in the event of
an accident.
In order for the battery to achieve the maxi-
mum possible service 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 a qualified specialist workshop. You can also charge the battery with a
charger recommended by Mercedes-Benz. 418
Battery (vehicle)Breakdown assistance
For more information, please contact a quali-
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 a qualified specialist
workshop if you wish to leave your vehicle
parked up for a long period of time.
When you park the vehicle, remove the key if you do not require any electrical consumers.
The vehicle will then use very little energy,
thus conserving battery power.
Hybrid vehicles: if the battery charge is suf-
ficient, the high-voltage battery can also sup- ply the 12 V battery with energy. This only
happens if the battery charge of the 12 V bat-
tery requires this, e.g. after using electrical
consumers for an extended period with the
engine switched off. As the on-board voltage
is continuously monitored this can also be
performed when the engine is switched off.
The battery charge of the 12 V battery and the
on-board voltage are thereby kept stable for
longer. High-voltage battery - important
safety notes
Only hybrid vehicles are equipped with a high-
voltage battery. G
DANGER
The vehicle's high voltage electrical system is under high voltage. If you modify components
in the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system or touch damaged components, you may be
electrocuted. The components in the vehi-
cle's high-voltage electrical system may be
damaged in an accident, although the damage
is not visible. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Do not touch any high-voltage components
after an accident and never modify the vehi-
cle's high-voltage electrical system. Have the vehicle towed away after an accident and the vehicle's high-voltage electrical system
checked by a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
In the event of a vehicle fire, the internal pres- sure of the high-voltage battery could exceeda critical value. In this case, flammable gas
escapes through a vent valve in the vehicle's
underbody. The gas can ignite. There is a risk
of injury.
Leave the danger area immediately. Secure
the danger area at a suitable distance, whilst
observing legal requirements. G
WARNING
If the housing of the high-voltage battery has
been damaged, electrolyte and gases may
leak out. These are poisonous and caustic.
There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing. Immediately rinse electrolyte splashes off
with water and seek medical attention
straight away.
! Only charge the high-voltage battery in
the "Charging when stationary" mode. Do
not connect a battery charger to the high-
voltage battery. Otherwise, the vehicle's
high-voltage electrical system could be
damaged.
! Exhaustive discharge caused by the vehi-
cle standing idle for lengthy periods can
damage the high-voltage battery.
If the vehicle is idle for lengthy periods, run
it for a few minutes once every six weeks to
charge up the high-voltage battery.
During the charging process, switch off all
electrical consumers, e.g. the automatic
climate control or the seat heating.
If you wish to park your vehicle for several
weeks, ensure that the battery is at least 30% charged. If necessary, charge the high-volt-
age battery while stationary before parking
the vehicle (Y page 420).
Consult a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre if
you wish to leave your vehicle parked up for a
long period of time. Battery (vehicle)
419Breakdown assistance Z
Do not use a rapid charging device to start the vehicle. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jump
leads. Observe the following points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible,
jump-start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device.
R Vehicles with a petrol engine: only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust
system are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may only be performed using batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jump leads that have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected
for a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that:
R The jump leads are not damaged.
R Non-insulated parts of the terminal clamps do not come into contact with other metal parts
while the jump leads are connected to the battery.
R The jump leads cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
X Secure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake.
X Automatic transmission: shift the transmission to position P.
X Manual transmission: depress the clutch pedal fully and shift to neutral.
X Make sure the ignition is switched off (Y page 185). All indicator lamps in the instrument
cluster must be off. When using the key, turn the key to position 0in the ignition lock and
remove it (Y page 185).
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window heating, lighting etc.
X Open the bonnet. Jump-starting
423Breakdown assistance Z
!
When COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func- tion is activated, the vehicle brakes auto-
matically in certain situations. To avoid
damage to the vehicle, deactivate these
systems in the following or similar situa-
tions:
R when towing away
R in a car wash
! Make sure that the electric parking brake
is released. If the electric parking brake is
faulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
! Only secure the tow cable or tow bar to
the towing eyes or, if available, to the trailer
tow hitch. You could otherwise damage the
vehicle.
! Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
R secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R make sure that the tow rope is not longer
than legally permitted. Mark the tow rope
in the middle, e.g. with a white cloth
(30 x 30 cm). This makes other road
users aware that a vehicle is being
towed.
R only secure the tow rope to the towing
eye.
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. You could otherwise dam-
age the vehicle.
! Do not use the towing eyes for recovery
purposes as this could damage the vehicle.
If in doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! Pull away smoothly when towing away or
tow-starting a vehicle. If the tractive power
is too high, the vehicles could be damaged.
! Shift the automatic transmission to
Nand
do not open the driver's or front passeng- er's door during towing. The automatic
transmission may otherwise shift to posi-
tion
P, which could damage the transmis-
sion.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum of
50km. 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.
! If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per- missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle
weight of your vehicle can be found on the
vehicle identification plate (Y page 470).
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 a transporter or
trailer.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
when towing a vehicle, the automatic trans-
mission must be in position N. If the auto-
matic transmission cannot be shifted to posi- tion N, have the vehicle transported on a
transporter or trailer.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2
R cannot release the electric parking brake
R cannot shift the transmission to position N
on vehicles with automatic transmission
Deactivate the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 98). You
could otherwise be locked out when pushing
or towing the vehicle.
Deactivate tow-away protection (Y page 88)
before the vehicle is towed.
Hybrid vehicles: Towing away and tow-starting
425Breakdown assistance Z
Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
Vehicles with automatic transmission: 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 posi-
tion Nwhen towing the vehicle, you must
observe the following points:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
Vehicles with manual transmission: X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Depress the clutch pedal fully and shift to
neutral.
Vehicles with manual or automatic trans-
mission:
X Leave the key in position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 137).
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. When
you reset the combination switch, the hazard
warning lamps start flashing again. Transporting the vehicle
Hybrid vehicles: transportation of the vehi-
cle should only be carried out by professional
recovery companies. !
You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, 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 trans-
porter if you wish to transport it.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and shift to
neutral.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
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 electric parking brake.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage
first or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it.
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.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed
away with both axles on the ground or be loa- ded up and transported.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or
damage to the front or rear axle, have it trans-
ported on a transporter or trailer.
In the event of damage to the electrical
system: if the battery is defective, the auto-
matic transmission will be locked in position
P. To shift the automatic transmission to posi- Towing away and tow-starting
427Breakdown assistance Z
tion
N, you must provide power to the vehi-
cle's electrical system in the same way as
when jump-starting (Y page 422).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter or trailer. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Do not tow-start vehicles with automatic
transmission. You could otherwise damage the automatic transmission.
i You can find information on "Jump-start-
ing" under (Y page 422).
Before tow-starting, the following conditions
must be fulfilled:
R the battery is connected
R the engine has cooled down
R the exhaust system has cooled down
When tow-starting, it is important that you
observe the safety notes (Y page 424)and the
legal requirements in each respective coun-
try.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 137).
X Fit the towing eye (Y page 426).
X Secure the rigid towing bar or the towing
rope.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Depress the clutch pedal fully, engage sec-
ond gear and continue to keep the clutch
pedal fully depressed.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Tow-start the vehicle.
X Release the clutch pedal slowly; do not
depress the accelerator pedal while doing
so.
X When the engine has been started, imme-
diately depress the clutch pedal fully and
shift to neutral. X
Pull over at a suitable place and stop the
vehicle safely, paying attention to road and
traffic conditions.
X Use the electric parking brake to secure the
vehicle and prevent it from rolling away.
X Remove the rigid towing bar or towing rope.
X Remove the towing eye (Y page 426).
X Switch off the hazard warning lamps. Electrical fuses
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you manipulate, bridge or replace a faulty
fuse with a fuse of a higher amperage, the
electric cables could be overloaded. This may result in a fire. There is a risk of an accident
and injury.
Always replace faulty fuses with specified new fuses of the correct amperage.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognise by
the colour and fuse rating. The fuse ratings
are listed in the fuse allocation chart.
If the newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Ser-
vice Centre.
! 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 sys-
tems could be damaged.
The fuses in your vehicle disconnect faulty
circuits. If a fuse blows, all the components on the circuit and their functions will fail. Before replacing a fuse
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 211).
X Switch off all electrical consumers. 428
Electrical fusesBreakdo
wn assis tance