2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK-Class tow bar

pay attention to the respective lowest val-
ues.
R The trailer drawbar load on the ball coupling
must be added to the rear axle load to avoid
exceeding the permissible gross axle
weight. The permissible gross vehicle
weight is indicated on the identification
plate on the B-pillar on the driver's side of
the vehicle.
i Mercedes-Benz recommends a trailer
load where the trailer drawbar noseweight
accounts for 8% to 15% of the trailer's per-
missible gross weight.
i The weight of other accessories, passen-
gers and loads reduces:
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible noseweight that your
vehicle can tow
Checking the vehicle and trailer weight R
To ensure compliance of the weight of the
towing vehicle and the trailer with the max-
imum permissible values, have the vehicle/ trailer combination (towing vehicle includ-
ing driver, passenger, load and fully laden
trailer) weighed on a calibrated weigh-
bridge.
R Check the gross axle weight rating of the
front and rear axles, the gross weight of the trailer and trailer drawbar load. Removing the ball coupling
X Observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions.
X Press the protective cap into the ball cou-
pling recess.
X Make sure that the protective cap is firmly
in place. Storing the ball coupling
G
WARNING
Do not carry the ball coupling in the vehicle
interior if it is not secured.
Otherwise, you and others could be injured by the ball coupling being thrown around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
X Observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions. Trailer power supply
The trailer socket of your vehicle is equipped at the factory with a permanent power supply.
The permanent power supply is supplied via
trailer socket pin 4.
! You can connect accessories with a max-
imum power consumption of 240 W to the
permanent power supply.
You must not charge a trailer battery using the power supply.
The trailer's permanent power supply is
switched off in the event of low vehicle supply voltage and after six hours at the latest.
A qualified specialist workshop can provide
more information about installing the trailer
electrics. Towing a trailer
217Driving and parking Z

X
Do not remove any foreign objects which
have penetrated the tire, e.g. screws or
nails.
X Remove the tire sealant bottle, the accom-
panying TIREFIT sticker and the tire infla-
tion compressor from the stowage well
underneath the cargo compartment floor
(Y page 314).
X Affix part 0043of the TIREFIT sticker within
the driver's field of vision.
X Affix part 0044of the TIREFIT sticker near the
valve on the wheel with the defective tire. X
Pull plug 0085with the cable and hose 0083out
of the housing.
X Screw hose 0083onto flange 0084of tire seal-
ant bottle 0043.
X Place tire sealant bottle 0043head down-
wards into recess 0044of the tire inflation
compressor. X
Remove the cap from valve 006Bon the faulty
tire.
X Screw filler hose 006Conto valve 006B. X
Insert connector 0085into the cigarette
lighter socket (Y page 284) or into a 12 V
socket (Y page 284) in your vehicle.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 1in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 149).
X Press on/off switch 0087on the tire inflation
compressor to I.
The tire inflation compressor is switched
on. The tire is inflated.
i First, tire sealant is pumped into the tire.
The pressure can briefly rise to approx-
imately 500 kPa (5 bar/73 psi).
Do not switch off the tire inflation com-
pressor during this phase.
X Allow the tire inflation compressor to run
for five minutes. The tire should then have
attained a pressure of at least 180 kPa
(1.8 bar/26 psi).
If a pressure of 180 kPa (1.8 ba r/26 psi) has
been attained after five minutes, see "Tire
pressure reached" (Y page 318).
If a tire pressure of 180 kPa (1.8 bar/26 psi) has not been attained after five minutes, see"Tire pressure not reached" (Y page 317).
i If tire sealant leaks out, allow it to dry. It
can then be removed like a layer of film.
If your clothes are soiled with tire sealant,
have them cleaned with perchloroethylene
at a dry cleaner as soon as possible.
Tire pressure not reached If a pressure of 180 kPa (1.8 bar/26 psi) has
not been attained after five minutes:
X Switch off the tire inflation compressor.
X Unscrew the filler hose from the valve of
the faulty tire.
X Very slowly drive forwards or reverse
approximately 30 ft (10 m).
X Pump up the tire again.
After a maximum of five minutes the tire
pressure must be at least 180 kPa (1.8 bar/
26 psi). Flat tire
317Breakdown assistance Z

G
WARNING
If the required tire pressure is not reached
after the specified time, the tire is too badly
damaged. The tire sealant cannot repair the
tire in this instance. Damaged tires and a tire pressure that is too low can significantly
impair the vehicle's braking and driving char-
acteristics. There is a risk of accident.
Do not continue driving. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop.
Tire pressure reached If a tire pressure of 180 kPa (1.8 bar/26 psi)
has been attained after five minutes:
X Switch off the tire inflation compressor.
X Unscrew the filler hose from the valve of
the faulty tire.
! After use, excess tire sealant may run out
of the filler hose. This could cause stains.
Therefore, place the filler hose in the plastic
bag that contained the TIREFIT kit.
X Stow the tire sealant bottle, the tire infla-
tion compressor and the warning triangle.
X Pull away immediately. G
WARNING
A tire temporarily sealed with tire sealant
impairs the driving characteristics and is not
suitable for higher speeds. There is a risk of
accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
accordingly and drive carefully. Do not exceed the specified maximum speed with a tire that
has been repaired using tire sealant.
The maximum speed for a tire sealed with tire
sealant is 50 mph (80 km/h). The upper part of the TIREFIT sticker must be affixed to the
instrument cluster in the driver's field of
vision. X
Stop after driving for approximately ten
minutes and check the tire pressure with
the tire inflation compressor.
The tire pressure must now be at least
130 kPa (1.3 bar/19 psi). G
WARNING
If the required tire pressure is not reached
after driving for a short period, the tire is too
badly damaged. The tire sealant cannot repair the tire in this instance. Damaged tires and a
tire pressure that is too low can significantly
impair the vehicle's braking and driving char-
acteristics. There is a risk of accident.
Do not continue driving. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop.
i In cases such as the one mentioned
above, contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center. Or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(in the USA) or 1-800-387-0100 (in Can-
ada).
X Correct the tire pressure if it is still at least
130 kPa (1.3 bar/19 psi). See the Tire and
Loading Information placard on the driver's side B-pillar or the tire pressure table in the fuel filler flap for values.
X To increase the tire pressure: switch on
the tire inflation compressor. X
To reduce the tire pressure: depress
pressure release button 006Dnext to pres-
sure gauge 006E.318
Flat tireBreakdown assistance

X
First, remove the jumper cables from ground point 0083and negative terminal 0085, then from
positive clamp 0044and positive terminal 0087. Begin each time at the contacts on your own
vehicle first.
X Close cover 0043of positive terminal 0044after removing the jumper cables.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
i Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
i Jumper cables and further information regarding jump-starting can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop. Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
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
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
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.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle
weight of your vehicle can be found on the
vehicle identification plate (Y page 372).
! 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 !
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.
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eyes for recovery
purposes as 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.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the
SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop but-
ton. Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock and shift the automatic trans- mission to N. Then, turn the SmartKey back
to 0and leave it in the ignition lock.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
The automatic transmission must be in posi-
tion Nwhen the vehicle is being towed. Towing and tow-starting
325Breakdown assistance Z

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 Disarm the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 85). You
could otherwise be locked out when push-
ing or towing the vehicle. Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye G
WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be very hot. There is
a risk of burns when removing the rear cover.
Do not touch the exhaust pipe. Take particular
care when removing the rear cover.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch: if you intend to use the vehicle for towing, install the ball
coupling and connect the towbar to it
(Y page 214).
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit (Y page 314).
The brackets for the screw-in towing eyes are
located in the bumpers. For vehicles without
a trailer tow hitch, they are at the front and at
the rear, under the covers. For vehicles with
trailer tow hitch, it is located under the cover. Vehicles without the AMG Sports package
Vehicles with the AMG Sports package
X Press the mark on cover 0043inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
Rear bumpers on vehicles with the AMG
Sports package: lift up cover 0043from the
bumper by inserting a round, blunt object
into the recess.
X Take cover 0043off the opening.
X Screw in and tighten the towing eye clock-
wise 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. 326
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

Maximum load on one tire
Maximum load on one tire. This is calculated
by dividing the maximum axle load of one axle by two. PSI (pounds per square inch)
A standard unit of measure for tire pressure. Aspect ratio
Relationship between tire height and tire
width in percent. Tire pressure
This is pressure inside the tire applying an
outward force to each square inch of the tire's surface. The tire pressure is specified in
pounds per square inch (psi), in kilopascal
(kPa) or in bar. The tire pressure should only
be corrected when the tires are cold. Tire pressure of cold tires
The tires are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked without
direct sunlight on the tires for at least three
hours and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further
than 1 mile (1.6 km) Tread
The part of the tire that comes into contact
with the road. Bead
The tire bead ensures that the tire sits
securely on the wheel. There are several steel
wires in the bead to prevent the tire from
coming loose from the wheel rim. Sidewall
The part of the tire between the tread and the
bead. Weight of optional extras
The combined weight of those optional extras that weigh more than the replaced standard
parts and more than 2.3 kg (5 lbs). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
brakes, level control, a roof rack or a high-
performance battery, are not included in the
curb weight and the weight of the accesso-
ries. TIN (Tire Identification Number)
This is a unique identifier which can be used
by a tire manufacturer to identify tires, for
example for a product recall, and thus identify the purchasers. The TIN is made up of the
manufacturer's identity code, tire size, tire
type code and the manufacturing date. Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a
code that contains the maximum load bearing
capacity of a tire. Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface. TWR (Tongue Weight Rating)
The TWR specifies the maximum permissible
weight that the ball coupling of the trailer tow
hitch can support. 354
Definition of terms for tires and loadingWheels and tires

All models
Turning radius
38.2 ft (11.65
m) Maximum roof load
165 lb (75 kg)
Model Vehicle height
GLK 250 BlueTEC
66.7 in (1694 mm)
All other models
66.7 in (1693 mm)
Model Ground clearance
GLK 250 BlueTEC
8.0 in (204 mm)
All other models
8.2 in (208 mm)
Trailer tow hitch
Mounting dimensions
! If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
changes to the engine cooling system and
drive train may be necessary, depending on
the vehicle type. Anchorage points for the trailer tow hitch (exam-
ple)
0043
Anchorage points
0044 Rear axle center line Trailer loads
Missing values were not available at time of
going to print. All models
Permissible trailer load,
unbraked
Permissible trailer load,
braked
17 3500 lbs
(1588 kg) Maximum drawbar nose-
weight
18 280 lbs
(127 kg) Permissible rear axle
load when towing a trailer
3108 lbs
(1410 kg) The actual noseweight may not be higher than
the value which is given. The value can be
found on the trailer tow hitch or trailer iden-
tification plates. The lowest weight applies.
17 At a minimum gradient-climbing capability of 12% from a standstill.
18 The drawbar noseweight is not included in the trailer load. Trailer tow hitch
381Technical data Z

The maximum permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight is the maximum weight with
which the trailer drawbar can be loaded. Limit
for Mercedes-Benz-approved trailer cou-
plings. 382
Trailer tow hitchTechnical data