2014 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS ESTATE towing

After washing the vehicle, brake carefully
while paying attention to the traffic conditions in order to restore full braking efficiency.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations. To prevent dam-
age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC
PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow-
ing or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
! Make sure:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof are
closed completely.
R the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (OFF button is depressed).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at posi-
tion 0
R the 360° camera or reversing camera is
switched off.
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
! If the key is within the rear detection
range of KEYLESS-GO, the following situa-
tions, for example, could lead to the boot lid
opening unintentionally:
R using a car wash
R using a high-pressure cleaner
Make sure that the key is at least 3 m away
from the vehicle.
! Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is in neutral position Nwhen washing
your vehicle in a tow-through car wash. The
vehicle may otherwise be damaged.
R Operating with the key:
Do not remove the key from the ignition
lock. Do not open the driver's door when
the engine is switched off or at very low
speeds. Otherwise, when in transmission position Dor Rthe automatic transmis-
sion will automatically switch to park
position Pand block the wheels.
R Operating with the Start/Stop button: Do not open the driver's door when the
engine is switched off or at very low
speeds. Otherwise, when in transmission
position Dor Rthe automatic transmis-
sion will automatically switch to park
position Pand block the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N
neutral:
Operating with the key:
X Make sure the ignition is switched on.
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Select neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake, if nec-
essary.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in
the ignition lock.
Operating with the Start/Stop button:
X Make sure the ignition is switched on.
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Select park position P.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Remove Start/Stop button from ignition
lock (Y page 185).
X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Select neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake, if nec-
essary.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in
the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
Wash off excess dirt before cleaning the vehi-
cle in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windscreen and the wiper Care
401Maintenance and care Z

Useful information
............................410
Where will I find...? ...........................410
Flat tyre ............................................. 412
Battery (vehicle) ................................ 416
Jump-starting .................................... 422
Towing away and tow-starting ........424
Electrical fuses ................................. 428 409Breakdown assistance

Fire extinguisher
X
Pull tab :upwards.
X Remove fire extinguisher ;.
Have fire extinguisher ;refilled after each
use and checked every one or two years. It
may otherwise fail in an emergency.
Observe the legal requirements for each indi-
vidual country. Vehicle tool kit
General notes The towing eye is located in the stowage well
under the luggage compartment floor.
On vehicles with MOExtended tyres (tyres
with run-flat characteristics) and hybrid vehi-
cles, the towing eye is located in the left stow- age compartment.
Apart from some country-specific variants,
vehicles are not equipped with tyre-changing
tools. If the vehicle is equipped with tyre-
changing tools, these are kept in the stowage well underneath the luggage compartment
floor. Some tools for changing a wheel are
specific to the vehicle. For more information
on which tyre changing tools are required and
approved to perform a wheel change on your vehicle, consult a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Necessary tyre-changing tools can include,
for example:
R jack
R wheel chock R
wheel wrench
R ratchet ring spanner
R centring pin
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit (Example)
:
Tyre inflation compressor
; Tyre sealant filler bottle
= Towing eye
X Open the tailgate.
X Swing the luggage compartment floor
upwards (Y page 380).
X Use the TIREFIT kit (Y page 414).
Vehicles with a tyre-change tool kit (Example)
:
Towing eye
; Tyre inflation compressor
= Tyre sealant filler bottle
? Wheel wrench
A Folding wheel chock
B Jack Where will I find...?
411Breakdown assistance

The tyre-change tool kit is kept in a tray in the
stowage well under the luggage compartment
floor.
X Open the tailgate.
X Swing the luggage compartment floor
upwards (Y page 380) and open the left-
hand stowage compartment.
Vehicles with MOExtended tyres (tyres
with run-flat characteristics) and hybrid vehicles :
Left-hand stowage compartment cover
; Towing eye
X Open the tailgate.
X Open cover :of the left-hand stowage
compartment.
X Remove towing eye ;.Flat tyre
Preparing the vehicle
Your vehicle may be equipped with: R MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat char-
acteristics) (Y page 413)
Vehicle preparation is not necessary on
vehicles with MOExtended tyres.
R a TIREFIT kit (Y page 411)
R an emergency spare wheel (only for certain
countries) (Y page 463)
Vehicles with an Mercedes-Benz emergency
call system which are not equipped with a
TIREFIT kit: in the event of a flat tyre, contact the Customer Assistance Centre for the
Mercedes-Benz emergency call system
(Y
page 388).
Information on changing/fitting a wheel
(Y page 441).
X Stop the vehicle as far away as possible
from traffic on solid, non-slippery and level
ground.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 211).
X If possible, bring the front wheels into the
straight-ahead position.
X Switch off the engine.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
or, in vehicles with KEYLESS-GO start func-
tion or KEYLESS ‑GO
X Open the driver's door.
The on-board electronics now have status
0. This is the same as the key having been
removed.
X Remove the Start/Stop button from the
ignition lock (Y page 185).
X All occupants must get out of the vehicle.
Make sure that they are not endangered as
they do so.
X Make sure that no one is near the danger
area while a wheel is being changed. Any-
one who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.
X Get out of the vehicle. Pay attention to traf-
fic conditions when doing so.
X Close the driver's door.
X Place the warning triangle at a suitable dis-
tance (Y page 410). Observe legal require-
ments. 412
Flat tyreBreakdown assistance

Position number
Bidentifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-
starting device.
X Slide cover Aof positive terminal :in the direction of the arrow.
X Connect positive terminal :on your vehicle to positive terminal ;of donor battery B
using the jump lead. Always begin with positive terminal :on your own vehicle first.
X Start the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
X Connect negative terminal =of donor battery Bto earth point ?of your vehicle using the
jump lead, connecting the jump lead to donor battery Bfirst.
X Start the engine.
X Before disconnecting the jump leads, let the engines run for several minutes.
X First, remove the jump leads from earth point ?and negative terminal =, then from pos-
itive clamp :and positive terminal ;. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle
first.
X Close cover Aof positive clamp :after removing the jump leads.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Hybrid vehicles: if your vehicle has been jump-started, it may not be possible to use the
electric drive for approximately 30 minutes.
Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
i Jump-starting cables and further information regarding jump starting can be obtained at
any qualified specialist workshop. Towing away and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Safety relevant functions are restricted or no
longer available if:
R the engine is not running
R the brake system or power steering is mal-
functioning
R there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system
When your vehicle is towed away or towed
started, you may require considerably more
effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such cases use a rigid towing bar. Before
being towed away or tow started, make sure
the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
If the steering wheel lock is engaged, the vehi- cle can no longer be steered. There is a risk of
an accident.
Always switch on the ignition when towing
with a tow rope or a towing bar. G
WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R towing eye may be torn off
R car/trailer combination may swerve or
even overturn
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per- missible gross weight of your vehicle. 424
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

!
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

Hybrid vehicles may not be towed away but
must instead be transported, if:
R the multifunction display is not working or
R the ~ Malfunction
Malfunction display message is
shown in the multifunction display.
If the vehicle is in a dangerous location it may
be towed from the danger zone with both
axles on the ground. In this case, the towing
distance may not be greater than 50 m and
the towing speed must not exceed 10 km/h.
For longer distances, have the vehicle loaded
and transported. Fitting/removing the towing eye
Fitting the towing eye The brackets for the screw-in towing eyes are
located in the bumpers. They are at the rear
and at the front, under covers :.
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit/stowage tray (Y page 411).
X Press the mark on cover :inwards and
remove.
X Screw the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch do not have a
bracket at the back for the screw-in towing
eye. Connect the towbar to the trailer tow
hitch (Y page 287). 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/
stowage tray. Towing the vehicle away with the rear
axle raised
Hybrid vehicles: towing the vehicle with the
rear axle raised should only be carried out by
professional recovery companies.
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be
towed with the rear axle raised.
! 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.
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 137).
X Move the front wheels to the straight-
ahead position.
X If necessary, turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 0and remove the key from
the ignition lock.
X When leaving the vehicle, take the key with
you.
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions (Y page 424).426
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

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