2014 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class transmission

Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
R there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged. There
is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing the
vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar. G
WARNING
If the weight of the vehicle to be towed or tow-
started is greater than the permissible gross
weight of your vehicle:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could
rollover.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the
permissible gross weight of your vehicle.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations. To
prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash !
Make sure that the electric parking brake
is released. If the electric parking brake is
faulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
! Secure the tow rope or tow bar to the
towing eye only. Otherwise, the vehicle
could become damaged.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
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.
! Shift the automatic transmission to Nand
do not open the driver's or front
passenger's door during towing. The
automatic transmission may otherwise
shift to position P, which could damage 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 422).
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.
If the automatic transmission cannot be
shifted to position N, have the vehicle
transported on a transporter or trailer. 376
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the SmartKey to position 2in
the ignition lock
R cannot release the electric parking brake
R cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
i Disarm the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 92). You
could otherwise be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle. Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing 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 0043.
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit/stowage tray (Y page 364).
X Remove cover 0043from the opening.
X Screw in and tighten the towing eye
clockwise to the stop. Removing the towing eye X
Unscrew and remove the towing eye.
X Attach cover 0043to the bumper and press
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit/
stowage tray. Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be
towed with the rear axle raised.
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could
otherwise damage the brake system.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed
away with both axles on the ground or be
loaded up and transported.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 140).
X If necessary, turn the SmartKey in the
ignition lock to position 0and remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X Take the SmartKey with you when you leave
the vehicle.
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions (Y page 376). Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 376).
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. Towing and tow-starting
377Breakdown assistance Z

In order to ensure that the automatic
transmission stays in position Nwhen towing
the vehicle, you must observe the following
points:
X You must use the SmartKey instead of the
Start/Stop button (Y page 171).
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.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Leave the SmartKey in position 2in the
ignition lock.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 140).
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 indicator lamps for the direction of
travel flash. After resetting the
combination switch, the hazard warning
lamp starts flashing again. Transporting the vehicle
! 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
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 has been loaded:
X
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric 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. Notes 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.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed
away with both axles on the ground or be
loaded up and transported.
If the vehicle's transmission, front, or rear
axle is damaged, have the vehicle transported
on a truck 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 373).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. You could
otherwise damage the automatic
transmission.
i Information on "Jump-starting"
(Y page 373). 378
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

tires or chassis components replaced
immediately.
Mounting a wheel
Preparing the vehicle X
Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground.
X Apply the electric parking brake manually.
X Bring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Make sure that "normal" level is selected
for AIRMATIC (Y page 216).
X Switch off the engine.
X Open the driver's door.
The on-board electronics now have status
0. This is the same as the SmartKey having
been removed.
X Remove Start/Stop button from ignition
lock (Y page 171).
or, if the SmartKey is inserted in the ignition
lock:
X Remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
X If included in the vehicle equipment,
remove the tire-change tool kit from the
vehicle.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
Securing the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling away If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel chock,
it can be found in the tire-change tool kit
(Y
page 364).
The folding wheel chock is an additional
safety measure to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away, for example when changing a
wheel.
X Fold both plates upwards 0043.
X Fold out lower plate 0044.
X Guide the lugs on the lower plate fully into
the openings in base plate 0087. X
On level ground: place chocks or other
suitable items under the front and rear of
the wheel that is diagonally opposite the
wheel you wish to change. X
On light downhill gradients: place
chocks or other suitable items in front of
the wheels of the front and rear axle. 408
Changing a
wheelWheels and tires

VIN
X
Open the front right-hand door.
X Fold cover 0043down and remove it.
You will see the VIN.
The VIN can also be found in the following
locations:
R on the lower edge of the windshield
(Y page 423)
R on the vehicle identification plate
(Y page 422) Engine number
0043
Engine number (stamped into the
crankcase)
0044 VIN (on the lower edge of the windshield)
0087 Emission control information plate,
including the certification of both federal
and Californian emissions standards Service products and filling
capacities
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
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. H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an
environmentally responsible manner.
Service products include the following:
R Fuels
R Lubricants (e.g. engine oil, transmission oil)
R Coolant
R Brake fluid
R Windshield washer fluid
R Climate control system refrigerant
Components and service products must be
matched. 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 an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
You can recognize service products approved
by Mercedes-Benz by the following
inscription on the containers:
R MB-Freigabe (e.g. MB-Freigabe 229.51)
R MB Approval (e.g. MB Approval 229.51)
Other designations or recommendations
indicate a level of quality or a specification in
accordance with an MB Sheet number (e.g. Service products and filling capacities
423Technical data Z