! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high, the
vehicles could be damaged.
! Shift the automatic transmission to N and
do not open the driver's or front passenger's
door during towing. The automatic transmis-
sion 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.
It is better to have the vehicle transported than
to have it towed away.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission damage,
have it transported on a transporter or trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in position
N when the vehicle is being towed. If the auto-
matic transmission cannot be shifted to position
N , have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you: R
cannot turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock R
cannot release the electric parking brake R
cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
Disarm the automatic locking feature before the
vehicle is towed ( Y
page 89). You could other-
wise be locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles may not be towed
away but must instead be transported, if: R
the multifunction display is not working or R
the á Towing Not Permitted See
Operator's Manual message appears in the
multifunction display
If the vehicle is in a dangerous area, it can be
towed out of that area with both axles on the
ground. In this case, the towing distance must
not be greater than 165 ft (50 m) and must not
exceed a towing speed of 6 mph (10 km/ h) . For longer distances, have the vehicle loaded and
transported.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
The brackets for the screw-in towing eye are
located in the bumpers. They are at the rear and
at the front, under covers C .X
Remove the towing eye from the vehicle tool
kit ( Y
page 343). X
Press the mark on cover C inwards and
remove. X
Screw in the towing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye X
Unscrew and remove the towing eye. X
Attach cover C to the bumper and press until
it engages. X
Put the towing eye back into the vehicle tool
kit.
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be towed
with the rear axle raised.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles: towing the vehicle
away with the rear axle raised should only be
carried out by professional recovery companies.Towing and tow-starting 355
Breakdown assistance Z
! 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.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission must
not be towed with the rear axle raised. The
vehicle/trailer combination may otherwise
swerve or even roll over.
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground The automatic transmission automatically shifts
to position P when you open the driver's or front-
passenger door or when you remove the Smart-
Key from the ignition lock. In order to ensure
that the automatic transmission stays in posi-
tion N when towing the vehicle, you must
observe the following points: X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition
lock. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Shift the automatic transmission to position
N . X
Leave the SmartKey in position 2 in the igni-
tion lock. X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Switch on the hazard warning lamps
( Y
page 120).
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
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles
Transportation of the vehicle should only be car-
ried out by professional recovery companies. 4MATIC vehicles/vehicles with auto-
matic transmission
! When the vehicle is loaded for transport, the
front and rear axles must be stationary and on
the same transportation vehicle. Positioning
over the connection point of the transport
vehicle is not permitted. The drive train may
otherwise be damaged.
All vehicles
! 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 transporting pur-
poses. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in 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 posi-
tion P . X
Turn the SmartKey to position 0 in 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.356
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance
Important safety notes
G WARNIN G
If wheels and tires of th e wrong siz e are used,
th e whee l brakes or suspension component s
may be damaged. Ther e is a ris k of an acci-
dent.
Always replace wheels and tires wit h those
that fulfill th e specification s of th e original
part .
When replacing wheels, mak e sur e to use th e
correct: R
designation R
model
When replacing tires , mak e sur e to use th e
correct: R
designation R
manufacturer R
model
G WARNIN G
A flat tire severely impairs th e driving , steer -
ing and braking characteristics of th e vehicle.
Ther e is a ris k of accident.
Tires without run-flat characteristics :R
do no t driv e wit h a flat tire.R
immediately replace th e flat tire wit h your
emergenc y spar e whee l or spar e wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Tires wit h run-flat characteristics :R
pay attention to th e information and warn -
ing notice s on MOExtended tires (tire s wit h
run-flat characteristics).
Accessories that are no t approve d for your vehi-
cle by Mercedes-Ben z or are no t bein g used cor-
rectl y can impair th e operating safety.
Before purchasing and usin g non-approve d
accessories, visit a qualified specialist work-
sho p and inquire about :R
suitabilit yR
legal stipulation sR
factory recommendation s Further information regarding wheels and tires
can be foun d under "Wheel/tire combinations"
( Y
page 384).
You can ask for information regarding permitte d
wheel-tire combination s at an authorize d
Mercedes-Ben z Center.
Information on tire pressur e can be found:R
on th e Tir e and Loading Information placard
on th e B-pillar on th e driver' s side
( Y
page 370) R
in th e tire pressur e table in th e fuel filler flap
( Y
page 165) R
under "Tir e pressure" ( Y
page 363)
Operation
Information on driving Chec k th e tire pressur e when th e vehicl e is
heavily laden and adjust prio r to a trip.
While driving , pay attention to vibrations, noises
and unusual handlin g characteristics , e.g. pull-
ing to on e side . This may indicat e that th e
wheels or tires are damaged. If you suspec t that
a tire is defective, reduce your spee d immedi-
ately. Stop th e vehicl e as soo n as possible to
chec k th e wheels and tires for damage. Hidden
tire damag e could also be causing th e unusual
handlin g characteristics . If you fin d no sign s of
damage, hav e th e tires and wheels checke d at a
qualified specialist workshop.
When parking your vehicle, mak e sur e that th e
tires do no t get deformed by th e cur b or other
obstacles. If they canno t be avoided, driv e ove r
obstacles suc h as curbs slowly and at an obtuse
angle. Otherwise, you may damag e th e wheels
or tires .
Notes on high performance tires
G WARNIN G
Due to th e special tire tread in combination
wit h th e optimized rubber compound , there is
an increased ris k of hydroplaning and skid-
din g on a damp or wet road surface. tire gri p is
also noticeably reduce d at low outside tem-
peratures and low tire operating tempera-
tures. Ther e is a ris k of an accident.360
Operation
Wheels and tires
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 out-
ward force to each square inch of the tire's sur-
face. 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.
Cold tire pressure The tires are cold: R
if the vehicle has been parked with the tires
out of direct sunlight 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 5 lbs (2.3 kg). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
brakes, level control, a roof rack or a high-per-
formance battery, are not included in the curb
weight and the weight of the accessories.
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 pur-
chasers. The TIN is made up of the manufactur-
er'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 capa-
city of a tire.
Traction Traction is the result of friction between the tires
and the road surface.
Treadwear indicators Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are distrib-
uted over the tire tread. If the tire tread is level
with the bars, the wear limit of
Tire-mounting tools should not be used near
the valve. This could damage the electronic
components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
( Y
page 380).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern
has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires in
the center.
On vehicles that have the same size front and
rear wheels, you can rotate the wheels accord-
ing to the intervals in the tire manufacturer's
warranty book in your vehicle documents. If no
warranty book is available, the tires should be
rotated every 3,000 to 6,000 miles (5,000 to
10,000 km). Earlier may be necessary, depend-
ing on the degree of tire wear. Do not change the
direction of wheel rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and the
brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel is rota-
ted. Check the tire pressure and, if necessary,
restart the tire pressure loss warning system
( Y
page 367) or the tire pressure monitor
( Y
page 369).
Direction of rotation Tires with a specified direction of rotation have
additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of hydro-
planing. These advantages can only be gained if
the tires are installed corresponding to the
direction of rotation.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates its
correct direction of rotation.
Storing wheels Store wheels that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the tires
from oil, grease, gasoline and diesel. 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 the vehicle level is set to "Nor-
mal" on vehicles with AIRMATIC ( Y
page 196).X
Switch off the engine. X
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. X
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO start-function
or KEYLESS-GO: open the driver's door.
The on-board electronics now have status 0 .
This is the same as the SmartKey having been
removed. X
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO start-function
or KEYLESS-GO: remove the Start/Stop but-
ton from the ignition lock ( Y
page 146).X
Make sure that the engine cannot be started
via your smartphone ( Y
page 149).X
If included in the vehicle equipment, remove
the tire-change tool kit from the vehicle. X
Safeguard the vehicle against 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 343).
The folding wheel chock is an additional safety
measure to prevent the vehicle from rolling
away, for example when changing a wheel.380
Changing a wheel
Wheels and tires
Additives
! Do no t use any additive s in th e engin e oil.
This could damag e th e engine.
Brake fluid
G WARNIN G
The brak e fluid constantl y absorbs moisture
from th e air. This lower s th e boiling poin t of
th e brak e fluid . If th e boiling poin t of th e brak e
fluid is to o low, vapo r pockets may for m in th e
brak e system when th e brakes are applie d
hard. This would impair braking efficiency.
There is a ris k of an accident.
You should hav e th e brak e fluid renewed at
th e specifie d intervals.
When handlin g brak e fluid , observ e th e impor-
tan t safet y note s on servic e products
( Y
page 388).
The brak e fluid chang e intervals can be foun d in
th e Maintenance Booklet .
Only use brak e fluid approve d by Mercedes-
Benz in accordanc e wit h MB-Freigabe or MB -
Approval 331.0.
Information about approve d brak e fluid can be
obtained at any qualified specialis t workshop or
on th e Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.co m.
i Have the brake fluid regularly replaced at a
qualified specialist workshop in accordance
with the replacement intervals and the
replacement confirmed in the Maintenance
Booklet.
Coolant
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If antifreeze comes into contact with hot com-
ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Let the engine cool down before you add anti-
freeze. Make sure that antifreeze is not spilled
next to the filler neck. Thoroughly clean the antifreeze from components before starting
the engine.
! Only add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection. You
could otherwise damage the engine.
Further information on coolants can be found
in the Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Ser-
vice Products, MB BeVo 310.1, e.g. on the
Internet at http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
Or contact a qualified specialist workshop.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture, even
in countries where high temperatures prevail.
Otherwise, the engine cooling system is not
sufficiently protected from corrosion and
overheating.
i Have the coolant regularly replaced at a
qualified specialist workshop and the replace-
ment confirmed in the Maintenance Booklet.
Comply with the important safety precautions
for service products when handling coolant
( Y
page 388).
The coolant is a mixture of water and anti-
freeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs the fol-
lowing tasks: R
corrosion protection R
antifreeze protection R
raising the boiling point
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down to
-35 ‡ (-37 †), the boiling point of the coolant
during operation is approximately 266 ‡
(130 †).
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor concentra-
tion in the engine cooling system should: R
be at least 50%. This will protect the engine
cooling system against freezing down to
approximately -35 ‡ (-37 †). R
not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection down
to -49 ‡ [-45 †]). Otherwise, heat will not be
dissipated as effectively.
Mercedes-Benz recommends an antifreeze/
corrosion inhibito r concentra te in accordance
w
ith MB Specifications for Service Products
310.1.
i When the vehicle is first delivered, it is filled
with a coolant mixture that ensures adequate
antifreeze and corrosion protection.392
Service products and filling capacities
Technical data