! 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 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.
! The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of
30 mph (50km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles (50km), the front axle must be
raised or the entire vehicle raised and
transported.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! When towing vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
use the key instead of the Start/Stop but-
ton. Otherwise, the automatic transmission
may shift to position P when the driver's or
front-passenger door are opened, which
could lead to damage to the transmission.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be started by tow-starting. This
could otherwise damage the transmission.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed away.
If the vehicle can no longer be driven because
of an accident or breakdown, you have the
following options: R
Transporting the vehicle
As a rule, you should have the vehicle trans-
ported. R
Towing the vehicle with a tow rope or tow
bar
Only tow the vehicle in exceptional cases. 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 transmission to position N
The function of the electric parking brake and
the parking lock is dependent on the on-board
voltage.
If the on-board voltage is low or there is a
system malfunction, it is possible that: R
the electric parking brake may not be
applied in certain circumstances, or R
the transmission may not be shifted to P
Switch off non-essential consumers, e.g. the
radio.
Disarm the automatic locking feature before
the vehicle is towed ( Y
page 222). 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 eye are
located in the bumpers. They are at the rear
and at the front, under covers C .322
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance
X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N .X
Leave the SmartKey in position 2 in the
ignition lock. X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Switch on the hazard warning lamps
( Y
page 117).
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 indicator lamps for the direction of
travel flash. After resetting the combina-
tion switch, the hazard warning lamp starts
flashing again.
Transporting the vehicle
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. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the igni-
tion lock ( Y
page 147). X
Shift the 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 transmission to position P .X
Turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the igni-
tion lock and remove it. X
Secure the vehicle.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporting
purposes.
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 only 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 319).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer.324
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance
