Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if: R
the engine is not running. R
the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning. R
there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely.
G WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible
gross weight of your vehicle, the: R
the towing eye could detach itself R
the vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
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.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weight
of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate ( Y
page 426).
! When COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automatically
in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
these systems in the following or similar sit-
uations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the 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. Otherwise, the vehicle could
become damaged.
! Do not use the towing eyes for recovery pur-
poses as this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, recove r 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 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 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: 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 87). You could other-
wise be locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:Towing and tow-starting 379
Breakdown assistance Z
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.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may 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 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 376).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter or
trailer.
Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Vehicles with automatic transmission must
not be tow-started. You could otherwise dam-
age the automatic transmission.
i Information on "Jump-starting"
( Y
page 376).
Fuses
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If you manipulate or bridge a faulty fuse or if
you replace it with a fuse with a higher amper-
age, the electric cables could be overloaded.
This could result in a fire. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Always replace faulty fuses with the specified
new fuses having the correct amperage.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of the
same rating, which you can recognize by the
color and value. The fuse ratings are listed in the
fuse allocation chart.
The fuse allocation chart is on the fuse box in the
trunk ( Y
page 381). Fuses 381
Breakdown assistance Z
Important safety notes
G WARNIN G
Eac h tire, includin g th e spar e (if provided),
should be checke d at least once every two
week s when cold and inflated to th e pressur e
recommended by th e vehicl e manufacturer
on th e Tir e and Loading Information placard
on th e driver' s door B-pillar or th e tire pres-
sur e label on th e inside of th e fuel filler flap . If
your vehicl e has tires of a differen t siz e than
th e siz e indicated on th e Tir e and Loading
Information placard or, if available, th e tire
pressur e label, you should determine th e
proper tire pressur e for those tires .
As an added safet y feature, your vehicl e has
been equipped wit h a tire pressur e monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminate s a low tire pres-
sur e telltale when on e or mor e of your tires
are significantly underinflated. Accordingly,
when th e low tire pressur e telltale lights up,
you should stop and chec k your tires as soo n
as possible , and inflat e them to th e proper
pressure. Drivin g on a significantly underin-
flated tire causes th e tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduce s fuel efficiency
and tire tread life , and may affec t th e vehicle's
handlin g and stopping ability. Pleas e note that
th e TPM S is no t a substitut e for proper tire
mainte
nance , a nd it is th e d river' s responsi-
bilit y to maintai n correc t tire pressure, eve n if
underinflation has no t reached th e level to
trigge r illumination of th e TPM S low tire pres-
sur e telltale.
Your vehicl e has also been equipped wit h a
TPM S malfunction indicator to indicat e when
th e system is no t operating properly. The
TPM S malfunction indicator is combined wit h
th e low tire pressur e telltale. When th e sys-
te m detects a malfunction , th e warning lamp
will flas h for approximately a minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This
sequenc e will be repeated every time th e vehi-
cle is started as lon g as th e malfunction
exists. When th e malfunction indicator is illu- minated, th e system may no t be able to detec t
or signal low tire pressur e as intended.
TPM S malfunction s may occur for a variet y of
reasons, includin g th e installation of incom-
patible replacemen t or alternate tires or
wheels on th e vehicl e that preven t th e TPM S
from functioning properly. Always chec k th e
TPM S malfunction telltale after replacing on e
or mor e tires or wheels on your vehicl e to
ensur e that th e replacemen t or alternate Tires
and wheels allow th e TPM S to continue to
function properly.
It is th e driver' s responsibilit y to set th e tire
pressur e to that recommended for cold tires
whic h is suitable for th e operating situation
( Y
page 387). Not e that th e correc t tire pressur e
for th e curren t operating situation must first be
taught-in to th e tire pressur e monitor. If there is
a substantial loss of pressure, th e warning
threshold for th e warning message is aligned to
th e referenc e value s taught-in . Restart th e tire
pressur e monitor after adjusting th e pressur e of
th e cold tires ( Y
page 392). The curren t pres-
sures are saved as ne w referenc e values. As a
result , a warning message will appear if th e tire
pressur e drops significantly.
The tire pressur e mon ito r does no t w
arn you of
an incorrectl y set tire pressure. Observ e th e
note s on th e recommended tire pressur e
( Y
page 387).
The tire pressur e monitor is no t able to warn you
of a sudde n loss of pressure, e.g. if th e tire is
penetrated by a foreign object. In th e event of a
sudde n loss of pressure, brin g th e vehicl e to a
halt by braking carefully. Avoid abrup t steering
movements.
The tire pressur e monitor has a yellow warning
lamp in th e instrumen t cluste r for indicating
pressur e loss or a malfunction . Whether th e
warning lamp flashes or lights up indicates
whether a tire pressur e is to o low or th e tire
pressur e monitor is malfunctioning :R
if th e warning lamp is lit continuously, th e tire
pressur e on on e or mor e tires is significantly
to o low. The tire pressur e monitor is no t mal-
functioning . R
if th e warning lamp flashes for aroun d a
minute and then remain s lit constantly, th e
tire pressur e monitor is malfunctioning .
In addition to th e warning lamp , a message
appear s in th e multifunction display. Observ eTire pressure 391
Wheels and tires Z