Keep away from fire and naked flames. Do not
lean over the battery. Never charge the battery
if it is still fitted to the vehicle, unless you are
using a battery charger that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. A battery charger
unit specially adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehi-
cles and tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz is available as an accessory. This device
permits charging of the battery while it is instal- led. Contact a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre
for information and availability. Read the battery charger's operating instructions before charg-
ing the battery.
All vehicles except vehicles with a lithium-
ion battery: if the warning and indicator lamps
on the instrument cluster do not light up at low temperatures, it is very likely that the dis-
charged battery has frozen. In this case, you
may neither jump-start the vehicle nor charge
the battery. The service life of a battery that has
been thawed may be reduced. The starting char-
acteristics may be impaired, especially at low
temperatures. Have the thawed battery
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Vehicles with a lithium-ion battery: at low
temperatures, do not use a battery charger to
charge a battery that has been removed. Allow
the battery to warm up gently first, if necessary. Otherwise, the service life may be reduced and
the starting characteristics impaired, especially
at low temperatures. Jump-starting
Hybrid vehicles: make sure that you read the separate Owner's Manual. You could otherwise fail
to recognise dangers, e.g. due to high voltage.
For the jump-starting procedure, use only the jump-starting connection point, consisting of a pos- itive terminal and an earth point, in the engine compartment.
All vehicles except vehicles with a lithium-ion 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 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. 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
During the charging process, a battery produces 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 contact with
vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a battery.
R It is important that you observe the described 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. 348
Jump-startingBreakdown assistance
R
It is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and disconnecting
the jump leads.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures below freezing point. When jump-starting the
vehicle or charging the battery, gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before charging it or jump-starting.
If the warning and indicator lamps do not light up on the instrument cluster when temperatures are low, it is probably because the discharged battery has frozen. In this case, you may neither jump-
start the vehicle nor charge the battery. The service life of a battery that has been thawed may be
reduced. The starting characteristics may be impaired, especially at low temperatures. Have the
thawed battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
All vehicles:
! Vehicles with a petrol engine:
avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Otherwise, the
non-combusted fuel may damage the catalytic converter.
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 Vehicles with a petrol engine: jump-start the vehicle only when the engine and exhaust system
are cold.
R All vehicles except vehicles with a lithium-ion battery: do not start the engine if the battery
is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may be performed only using batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Use only jump leads that have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
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 that 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 that the ignition is switched off . All indicator lamps on the instrument cluster must be
off. When using the key, turn the key to position 0in the ignition lock and remove it (Y page 144).
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window heating, lighting etc.
X Open the bonnet. Jump-starting
349Breakdown assistance Z
Position number
Cidentifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-starting
device.
X Lift up panel B.
X Slide cover Aof positive terminal :in the direction of the arrow.
X Connect positive terminal :on your vehicle to positive terminal ;of second battery Cusing
the jump lead. Always begin with positive terminal :on your own vehicle.
X Start the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
X Connect negative terminal =of second battery Cto earth point ?of your vehicle using the
jump lead, connecting jump lead to second battery Cfirst.
X Start the engine.
X Before disconnecting the jump leads, let the engines run for several minutes.
X First, remove the jump leads from earth point ?and negative terminal =, then from positive
terminal :and positive terminal ;. Each time, begin at the contacts on your own vehicle.
X Close cover Aof positive terminal :after removing the jump leads.
X Fold panel Bshut.
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
Hybrid vehicles: make sure that you read the
separate Owner's Manual. You could otherwise
fail to recognise dangers, e.g. due to high volt-
age. G
WARNING
Safety relevant functions are restricted or no
longer available if:
R the engine is not running
R the brake system or power steering is mal-
functioning
R there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system 350
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdown assistance
Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
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 transmission stays in position N
when the vehicle is being towed, you must
observe the following points:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
N.
X Leave the key in position 2in the ignition lock.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 117).
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 turn signals for
the desired direction flash. When you reset the
combination switch, the hazard warning lamps
start flashing again. Transporting the vehicle
General notes !
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. !
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 or trailer tow hitch can be used
to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or transporter if
you wish to transport it.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
N.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
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 loaded up
and transported.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or dam- age to the front or rear axle, have it transportedon a transporter or trailer.
In the event of damage to the electrical sys-
tem: 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 348).
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 You can find information on "Jump-starting"
under (Y page 348). Towing away and tow-starting
353Breakdown assistance Z