G
WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the creation of sparks, which could ignite the highly explo-
sive gases of a battery. There is a risk of an
explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the vehicle body to remove any existing electrostatic
build-up.
The highly flammable gas mixture is created
while the battery is charging and when jump-
starting.
Always make sure that neither you nor the
battery is electrostatically charged. Electro-
static charge is created, for example:
R by wearing synthetic fibre clothing
R due to friction between clothing and the
seat
R when you pull or push the battery across
carpet or other synthetic materials
R when you rub the battery with a cloth G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery produ- ces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or
sparks are created, the hydrogen gas can
ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into con- tact with vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a bat-
tery.
R It is important that you observe the descri-
bed order of the battery terminals when
connecting and disconnecting a battery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and dis-
connecting the jump leads.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury. Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not breathe in any battery gases. Do not
lean over the battery. Keep the batteries out
of the reach of children. Immediately rinse off
battery acid thoroughly with plenty of clean
water and seek medical attention at once.
All vehicles: H
Environmental note Batteries contain pollutants.
It is illegal to dispose of them
with the household rubbish.
They must be collected sep-
arately and disposed of in anenvironmentally 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. Battery (vehicle)
363Breakdown assistance Z
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. WARNING
Fire, naked flames and smoking
are prohibited when handling the
battery. Avoid creating sparks.
Electrolyte or battery acid is corro-
sive. Avoid contact with the skin,
eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective clothing,
in particular gloves, an apron and a face mask.
Immediately rinse electrolyte or
acid splashes off with clean water. Consult a doctor 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.
Like other batteries, the vehicle battery may
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.
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.
i When you park the vehicle, remove the
key if you do not require any electrical con-
sumers. The vehicle will then use very little energy, thus conserving battery power. Charging the battery
Mercedes-AMG vehicles:
! Only use battery chargers with a maxi-
mum charging voltage of 14.4 V.
All ot her vehicles G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive
gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting.
Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury. Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not breathe in any battery gases. Do not 364
Battery (vehicle)Breakdown assistance
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 You may only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust system are cold.
R Keep away from fire and open flames.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
R All vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles: 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 Do not lean over the battery.
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 Shift the transmission to position P.
X Make sure the ignition is switched off (Y page 161). 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 161).
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window heating, lighting etc.
X Open the bonnet. Earth point cover (example: right-hand drive) Jump-starting
367Breakdown assistance Z
X
First, remove the jump leads from earth point Band negative terminal A, then from pos-
itive clamp =and positive terminal ?. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle
first.
X Close cover Cof positive clamp =after removing the jump leads.
X Replace the earth point cover. Make sure all mountings for the fasteners are positioned
precisely beneath the corresponding recesses in the cover.
X Press fasteners :into the mountings until they engage.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
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 not
available if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning
R the voltage supply or the vehicle's electrical
system is malfunctioning.
If your vehicle is towed, significantly greater
force may be required to steer the vehicle or
to brake. There is a risk of an accident.
In such circumstances, use a towing bar.
Make sure that the steering is moving freely
before towing. 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.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate (Y page 404).
! 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.
! Secure the tow rope or tow bar to the
towing eye only. The vehicle may otherwise
be damaged. Towing away and tow-starting
369Breakdown assistance Z
!
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.
! 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 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.
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. The automatic transmission must be in posi-
tion
Nwhen the vehicle is being towed away.
If the automatic transmission cannot be shif- ted to position N, have the vehicle transpor-
ted 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 automatic transmission to
position N
i Deactivate the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed away
(Y page 92). You could otherwise be locked
out when pushing or towing the vehicle.
i Deactivate tow-away protection before
the vehicle is towed away (Y page 81). Fitting/removing the towing eye
Fitting the towing eye The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are at the
front and at the rear under covers :.370
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdown assistance
X
Remove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit/stowage tray (Y page 357).
X Press the mark on cover :inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
X Remove cover :from the opening.
X Screw in the towing eye clockwise as far as
it will go 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/
stowage tray. Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 369).
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 trans-
mission stays in position Nwhen towing the
vehicle, you must observe the following
points:
X You must use the key instead of the Start/
Stop button (Y page 161).
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the key is in position 0in the ignition
lock.
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.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake. X
Leave the key in position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 128).
i In order to signal a change of direction
when towing the vehicle with the hazard
warning lamps switched on, use the com-
bination 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. Towing the vehicle away with the rear
axle raised
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be
towed away 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 other-
wise damage the brake system.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise,
the transmission may be damaged.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be towed with the rear axle raised.
The car/trailer combination may otherwise swerve or even overturn. 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 eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporta-
tion.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N. Towing away and tow-starting
371Breakdown assistance Z
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.
X 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-
tion N, you must provide power to the vehi-
cle's electrical system in the same way as
when jump-starting (Y page 366).
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 Information on "Jump-starting"
(Y page 366). 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.
The fuse allocation chart is on the fuse box in
the boot (Y page 374).
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 Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 181).
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Make sure that the ignition is switched off
(Y page 161).
or
X When using the key, turn the key to position
0 in the ignition lock and remove it
(Y page 161).
All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
must be off. 372
Electrical fusesBreakdown assistance
wheel are specific to the vehicle. For more
information on which tools are required to
perform a wheel change on your vehicle,
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Necessary tyre-changing tools may
include, for example:
R Jack
R Wheel chock
R Wheel wrench
R Centring pin
Securing the vehicle against rolling
away If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel chock,
it can be found in the tyre-change tool kit
(Y page 357).
The folding wheel chock is an additional
securing measure to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away, for example when changing a
wheel.
X Fold both plates upwards :.
X Fold out lower plate ;.
X Guide the lugs on the lower plate fully into
the openings in base plate =. 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 slight downhill gradients: place
chocks or other suitable items in front of
the wheels of the front and rear axle.
Raising the vehicle G
WARNING
If you do not position the jack correctly at the appropriate jacking point of the vehicle, the
jack could tip over with the vehicle raised.
There is a risk of injury.
Only position the jack at the appropriate jack-
ing point of the vehicle. The base of the jack
must be positioned vertically, directly under
the jacking point of the vehicle.
Observe the following when raising the
vehicle:
R to raise the vehicle, only use the vehicle-
specific jack that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. If the jack is Changing a wheel
387Wheels and tyres Z