
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
RTo gain driving experience and to become
accustomed to the new handling charac-
teristics, you should practice the following
in a traffic-free location:
-cornering
-stopping
-backing up
RBefore driving, check:
-trailer tow hitch
-safety switch for braked trailers
-safety chains
-electrical connections
-lights
-wheels
RAdjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
RIf the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away carefully. Brake manually
using the brake controller and check
whether the brakes function correctly.
RSecure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is
in motion.
RWhen you couple up a trailer, check at reg-
ular intervals that the load is firmly secured.
If the trailer is equipped with trailer lights
and brakes, check the trailer to ensure that
these are working.
RBear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when driv-
ing without one. Avoid sudden steering
movements.
RThe vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly, has a decreased
gradient climbing capability and a longer
braking distance.
It is more susceptible to side winds and
requires more careful steering.
RIf possible, do not brake suddenly, but
instead depress the brake pedal moder-
ately at first so that the trailer can activate its brakes. Then increase the pressure on
the brake pedal.
RIf the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears on uphill or downhill
gradients, shift to a lower gear using the
left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter.
A lower gear and lower speed reduce the
risk of engine failure.
RWhen driving downhill, shift to a lower gear
to utilize the engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if
installed, the trailer brakes.
RIf the coolant temperature increases dra-
matically while the air-conditioning system is switched on, switch off the air-condition-
ing system.
Coolant heat can also be dissipated by
opening the windows and switching the
ventilation blower and the interior temper-
ature to the highest level.
RWhen overtaking, pay particular attention
to the extended length of your vehicle/
trailer combination.
Due to the length of the vehicle/trailer
combination, you require addi
tional road
space in relation to the vehicle you are
overtaking before you can change back to
the original lane.
Decoupling a trailer
GWARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with the overrun
brake engaged, you could trap your hand
between the vehicle and the trailer drawbar.
There is a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer if the overrun brake
is engaged.
!Do not disconnect a trailer with an
engaged overrun brake. Otherwise, your
vehicle could be damaged by the rebound-
ing of the overrun brake.
Towing a trailer233
Driving and parking
Z

XMake sure that the automatic transmissionis set to position P.
XApply the vehicle's parking brake.
XClose all doors and the tailgate.
XApply the trailer's parking brake.
XRemove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.
Removing the ball coupling
XRemove the spring cotter.
XRemove the bolt from the ball coupling
recess.
XRemove the ball coupling from the ball cou-
pling recess.
XClean the ball coupling if it is dirty.
XStow the ball coupling so that it cannot be
thrown around.
Observe the loading guidelines (
Ypage 306)
and the safety notes regarding stowage
spaces (
Ypage 306).
Information on cleaning and care of the trailer
tow hitch (
Ypage 349).
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.
!Accessories with a maximum power con-
sumption of 180 W can be connected 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.
Permissible trailer loads and trailer
drawbar noseweights
Weight specifications
The gross trailer weight is calculated by add-
ing the weight of the trailer to the weight of
the load and equipment on the trailer.
You will find installing dimensions and loads
under "Technical data" (
Ypage 415).
Loading a trailer
RWhen loading the trailer, make sure that
neither the permissible gross weight of the
trailer nor the gross vehicle weight is
exceeded. The permissible gross vehicle
weight is indicated on the identification
plate on the B-pillar on the driver's side of
the vehicle.
You can find the maximum permissible val-
ues on the type plates of your vehicle and
the trailer. When calculating how much
weight the vehicle and trailer may carry,
pay attention to the respective lowest val-
ues.
RThe 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.
iMercedes-Benz recommends a trailer
load where the trailer drawbar noseweight
accounts for 8% to 15% of the trailer's per-
missible gross weight.
iThe weight of other accessories, passen-
gers and loads reduces:
Rthe permissible trailer load
Rthe permissible noseweight that your
vehicle can tow
234Towing a trailer
Driving and parking

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
T!
÷
Inoperative See
Operator'sManual
EB D(electronic brak eforc edistribution), ABS, ES P®,BAS,
PRE ‑S AF E®,HOLD function ,Crosswin dAssist, hill start assist ,
STEE RCONTROL ,Active Lan eKeepin gAssis tand Active Blind
Spot Assis tare unavailable due to amalfunction .
BA SPLU Swit hCross-Traffic Assist, PRE‑ SAFE
®Brake,PRE ‑S AF E®
PLU Sand COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLU Smay also hav e
failed.
In addition ,th e÷ and! warnin glamp sligh tup in th e
instrumen tcluster and awarnin gtone sounds.
GWARNIN G
The brakesystem continues to function normally, but without th e
function slisted above. The fron tand rear wheels could therefore
loc kif you brak ehard, fo rexample.
The steerabilit yand brakin gcharacteristics may be severely affec -
ted. The brakin gdistanc ein an emergenc ybrakin gsituation can
increase .
If ES P
®is no toperational, ES P®is unable to stabiliz eth evehicle.
There is an increase dris kof skiddin gand an accident.
XDrive on carefully.
XVisit aqualified specialist workshop immediately.
F(USA
only)
!(Canada
only)
Tur nOn the Igni‐
tio nto Releas e
the Parkin gBrake
The red F(USAonly) or !(Canada only) indicato rlamp
lights up.
You attempte dto release th eelectric parkin gbrak ewhile th eigni-
tion was switched off.
XSwitc hon th eignition .
F(USA
only)
!(Canada
only)
Please Releas e
ParkingBrake
The red F(USAonly) or !(Canada only) indicato rlamp
flashes and awarnin gtone sounds. Acondition fo rautomati c
release of th eelectric parkin gbrak eis no tfulfilled (
Ypage 174).
You are drivin gwit hth eelectric parkin gbrak eapplied.
XReleas eth eelectric parkin gbrak emanually.
The red F(USAonly) or !(Canada only) indicato rlamp
flashes and awarnin gtone sounds.
You are usin gth eelectric parkin gbrak efo remergenc ybrakin g
(
Ypage 174).
Display messages26 1
On-board computer and displays
Z

Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
F!NF (USA only), !(Canada only): the red indicator lamp for the electric
parking brake flashes or is lit and/or the yellow warning lamp for the electric
parking brake is lit.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
6N The red restraint system warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
The restraint system is faulty.
GWARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be triggered unin-
tentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
XDrive on carefully.
XContact a qualified specialist workshop and have the restraint system
checked.
For further information about the restraint system, see (
Ypage 42).
298Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays

XShift to neutralN.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake, if nec-
essary.
XSwitch off the ignition and leave the Smart-
Key in the ignition lock.
Operating with the Start/Stop button:
XMake sure that the ignition is switched on.
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary.
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XEngage park position P.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRemove Start/Stop button from ignition
lock (
Ypage 153).
XInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
XSwitch on the ignition.
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift to neutralN.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake, if nec-
essary.
XSwitch off the ignition and leave the Smart-
Key in the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windshield and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the wind-
shield.
Washing by hand
In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements in each coun-
try.
XDo not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
XUse a soft sponge to clean.
XUse a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
XThoroughly hose down the vehicle with a
gentle jet of water.
XDo not point the water jet directly towards
the air inlet.
XUse plenty of water and rinse out the
sponge frequently.
XRinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
XDo not let the cleaning agent dry on the
paintwork.
Carefully remove all deposits of road salt as
soon as possible when driving in winter.
Power washers
GWARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
!Always maintain a distance of at least
11.8 in (30 cm) between the vehicle and the
power washer nozzle. Information about
the correct distance is available from the
equipment manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around
when cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
Rtires
Rdoor gaps, roof gaps, joints, etc.
Relectrical components
Rbattery
Rconnectors
Rlights
Rseals
Care345
Maintenance and care
Z

Do not start the vehicle using a rapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jumper
cables. Observe the following points:
RThe 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.
RYou may only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust system are cold.
ROnly jump-start from batteries with a 12 V voltage rating.
ROnly use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
RIf 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 battery slightly.
RMake sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that:
Rthe jumper cables are not damaged.
Rwhen the jumper cables are connected to the battery, uninsulated sections of the terminal
clamp do not come into contact with other metal sections.
Rthe jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
XSecure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to position P.
XMake sure that the ignition is switched off (Ypage 153). All indicator lamps in the instrument
cluster must be off. When using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it (
Ypage 153).
XSwitch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window defroster, lighting, etc.
XOpen the hood.
Position number Bidentifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-
starting device.
366Jump-starting
Breakdown assistance

!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, or the trailer tow hitch, if avail-
able. You could otherwise damage the vehi-
cle.
!Do not use the trailer tow hitch for recov-
ery or towing. Do not use the towing eye for recovery. this could damage the vehicle. If
in doubt, have the vehicle recovered using
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.
!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 dam-
age, have it transported on a transporter or
trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in posi-
tion 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. The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
Rcannot turn the SmartKey to position
2in
the ignition lock
Rcannot release the electric parking brake
Rcannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
Disarm the automatic locking feature before
the vehicle is towed (
Ypage 90). 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 front
and at the rear under covers :.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch do not have a
bracket for the screw-in towing eye at the
back. Connect the towbar to the trailer tow
hitch (
Ypage 228).
368Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle at
their designated seating positions.
Total load limit
Nominal load and luggage load plus 68 kg
(150 lbs) multiplied by the number of seats in
the vehicle.
Changing a wheel
Flat tire
The "Breakdown assistance" section
(
Ypage 356) contains information and notes
on how to deal with a flat tire. Information on driving with MOExtended tires in the event of
a flat tire can be found under "MOExtended
tires (tires with run-flat characteristics"
(
Ypage 357).
Rotating the wheels
GWARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions. The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of acci-
dent.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels and tires are of the same dimensions.
!On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are loca-
ted in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the elec- tronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(
Ypage 395).
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
according to the intervals in the tire manu-
facturer's warranty book in your vehicle docu-
ments. 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, depending 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 rotated. Check the tire pressure and reac-
tivate the tire pressure monitor if necessary
(
Ypage 383).
Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk
of hydroplaning. These advantages can only
be gained if the tires are installed correspond-
ing 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
XStop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground.
XApply the electric parking brake manually.
XBring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
Changing a wheel395
Wheels and tires
Z