2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SL-Class towing

Roadside Assistance button
XPress Roadside Assistance button:.
This initiates a call to the Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Center.
The indicator lamp in Roadside Assistance
button :flashes while the call is active.
The multifunction display shows the Con‐
necting Callmessage. The audio output
is muted.
If a connection can be made, the Call Con‐
nectedmessage appears in the multifunction
display.
If a mobile phone network and GPS reception
are available, the system transfers data to the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center,
for example:
Rcurrent location of the vehicle
Rvehicle identification number
iThe COMAND display indicates that a call
is active. During the call, you can change to
the navigation menu by pressing the NAVI
button on COMAND, for example.
Voice output is not available.
A voice connection is established between
the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center and the vehicle occupants.
From the remote malfunction diagnosis, the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center
can ascertain the nature of the problem
(
Ypage 528).
The Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center either sends a qualified Mercedes-
Benz technician or makes arrangements for your vehicle to be transported to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
You may be charged for services such as
repair work and/or towing.
Further details are available in your mbrace
manual.
iThe system has not been able to initiate a
Roadside Assistance call, if:
Rthe indicator lamp for Roadside Assis-
tance call button :is flashing continu-
ously.
Rno voice connection to the Mercedes-
Benz Customer Assistance Center was
established.
This can occur if the re
levant mobile phone
network is not available, for example.
The Call Failed
message appears in the
multifunction display.
XTo end a call: press the~button on the
multifunction steering wheel.
or
XPress the corresponding button for ending
a phone call on COMAND.
MB Info call button
XPress MB Info call button :.
This initiates a call to the Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Center.
The indicator lamp in MB Info call button :
flashes while the connection is being made.
The multifunction display shows the Con‐
nectingCallmessage. The audio system
is muted.
524Features
Stowage and features

should drive for a few minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash
GWARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is restored.
!If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deacti-
vate DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD func-
tion in the following or other similar situa-
tions:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!It is preferable to use car washes with
adjustable high-pressure pre-cleaning that
corresponds to the specification for the
Cabriolet program. In car washes that use
high water pressures, there is a risk that a
small amount of water may leak into the
vehicle.
!Vehicles with HANDS-FREE ACCESS: if a
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is within the
detection range of the KEYLESS-GO
antenna, the following situations could lead
to the unintentional opening of the trunk
lid:
Rusing a car wash
Rusing a power washer
Make sure that the SmartKey is at least
6.5 ft (2 m) away from the vehicle.
!Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
If you have your vehicle cleaned in a high-
pressure automatic car wash, small
amounts of water may enter the vehicle.
!Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is in position Nwhen washing your
vehicle in a tow-through car wash. The vehi-
cle could be damaged if the transmission is
in another position.
!Make sure that:
Rthe side windows and the roof are com-
pletely closed
Rthe climate control blower is switched off
Rthe windshield wiper switch is at position
0
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
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.
542Care
Maintenance and care

Useful information............................550
Where will I find...? ...........................550
Flat tire .............................................. 550
Battery (vehicle) ................................ 555
Jump-starting .................................... 559
Towing and tow-starting ..................561
Fuses .................................................. 564
549
Breakdown assistance

Useful information
i
This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip-
ment of your vehicle available at the time of
publication of the Operator's Manual.
Country-specific differences are possible.
Please note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all features described. This
also applies to safety-related systems and
functions.
iRead the information on qualified special-
ist workshops (
Ypage 34).
Where will I find...?
Vehicle tool kit
General notes
The vehicle tool kit consists of a towing eye
and test gauge for measuring the brake pad
thickness (
Ypage 178). The towing eye is
located in the trunk in a bracket below the
trunk lid lock. The gauge for measuring brake
pad/lining thickness is in the vehicle docu-
ment wallet. If the vehicle is equipped with a
TIREFIT kit, it is located in the stowage com-
partment under the trunk floor.
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit
:Towing eye
;Tire sealant filler bottle
=Fuse allocation chart
?Tire inflation compressor
XOpen the trunk lid.
XOpen the trunk partition (Ypage 103).
XLift the trunk floor upwards (Ypage 518).
XUse the TIREFIT kit (Ypage 552).
Tire-change tool kit
:Bag containing the tire-changing tools
XOpen the trunk lid.
XOpen the trunk partition (Ypage 103).
XLift the trunk floor upwards (Ypage 518).
iDepending on the equipment, tools
required for a wheel change, such as a jack or a lug wrench, are not available in all vehi-
cles. Tools approved for your vehicle are
available at a qualified specialist workshop.
Bag with tire-changing tools :contains:
RJack
RLug wrench
RAlignment bolt
RWheel chock
RGloves
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Your vehicle may be equipped with:
Rtires with run-flat characteristics
(MOExtended tires) (
Ypage 551)
Vehicle preparation is not necessary on
vehicles with MOExtended tires
Ra TIREFIT kit (Ypage 550)
550Flat tire
Breakdown assistance

Position numberBidentifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-
starting device.
XPress cover :of positive terminal ;down (in the direction of the arrow) and turn it
clockwise. Cover :is held down in the lowered position, which exposes positive termi-
nal ;.
XConnect positive terminal ;on your vehicle to positive terminal =of donor battery B
using the jumper cable, always begin with positive terminal ;on your own vehicle first.
XStart the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
XConnect negative terminal ?of donor battery Bto ground point Aof your vehicle using
the jumper cable, connecting the jumper cable to battery of other vehicle Bfirst.
XStart the engine.
XBefore disconnecting the jumper cables, let the engine run for several minutes.
XFirst, remove the jumper cables from ground point Aand negative terminal ?, then from
positive clamp ;and positive terminal =. Begin each time at the contacts on your own
vehicle first.
XAfter removing the jumper cables, press down cover :of positive terminal ;and turn it
counter-clockwise. Cover :returns to its original position. Positive terminal ;is covered
up and thus insulated again.
XHave the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
iJumper cables and further information regarding jump-starting can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop.
Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible
gross weight of your vehicle, the:
Rthe towing eye could detach itself
Rthe 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.
!Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
!If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deacti-
vate DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD func-
tion in the following or other similar situa-
tions:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
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.
!Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
Towing and tow-starting561
Breakdown assistance
Z

!When towing vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
use the key instead of the Start/Stop but-
ton. Otherwise, the automatic transmission
may shift to position Pwhen the driver's or
front-passenger door are opened, which
could lead to damage to the transmission.
!Make sure that the electric parking brake
is released. If the electric parking brake is
faulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
!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.
!If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
iInformation on your vehicle's gross vehi-
cle weight rating can be found on the vehi-
cle identification plate; see the printed
Operator's Manual.
iInformation on your vehicle's gross vehi-
cle weight rating can be found on the vehi-
cle identification plate (
Ypage 601).
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed away.
The automatic transmission must be in posi-
tion Nwhen the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged. Otherwise, you:
Rcannot turn the SmartKey to position 2in
the ignition lock
Rcannot shift the automatic transmission to position N.
Before the vehicle is towed, deactivate the
automatic locking feature (
Ypage 234). You
could otherwise be locked out when pushing
or towing the vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
GWARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be very hot. There is
a risk of burns when removing the rear cover.
Do not touch the exhaust pipe. Take particular
care when removing the rear cover.
Example: towing eye mounting covers
:
Front cover
;Back cover
The mountings for the screw-in towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are at the
front and at the rear, behind the covers.
XRemove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit (
Ypage 550).
XFront bumper: insert a finger into the
recess on the bottom edge of cover :.
XPull cover:out of the bumper towards
you in the direction of the arrow.
Cover :is attached to the opening with a
strap.
XRear bumper: press the mark on cover ;
inwards in the direction of the arrow.
XTake cover ;off the opening.
XScrew in the towing eye clockwise as far as
it will go and tighten it.
562Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

Removing the towing eye
Example: towing eye mounting covers
:
Front cover
;Back cover
XUnscrew and remove the towing eye.
XFront bumper:position cover:on the
opening in the bumper, as shown.
XTwist cover :into the opening in the direc-
tion of the arrow.
Cover :is now attached at the top edge of
the opening.
XTo close, press the lower section of
cover :.
XRear bumper: position cover;on the
bumper and press until it engages.
XPlace the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit
(
Ypage 550).
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
GWARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged. There
is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing the
vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar.
The automatic transmission automatically
shifts to position Pwhen you open the driver's
or front-passenger door or when you remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
In order to ensure that the automatic trans-
mission stays in position Nwhen towing the
vehicle, you must observe the following
points:
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(
Ypage 126).
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the key is in position 0in the ignition
lock.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the
SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop button
(
Ypage 152).
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift the transmission to position N.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake.
XLeave the SmartKey in position2in the
ignition lock.
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 indica-
tor lamps for the direction of travel flash.
When you res et the co
mbination switch, the
hazard warning flashers start flashing again.
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(
Ypage 561).
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
!
The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP
®could other-
wise damage the brake system.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be towed with the rear axle raised.
Towing and tow-starting563
Breakdown assistance
Z

The vehicle/trailer combination may oth-
erwise swerve or even roll over.
Transporting the vehicle
!
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
purposes.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock.
XShift the transmission to position N.
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded:
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to position P.
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the igni-
tion lock and remove it.
XSecure the vehicle.
Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
!
Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. You could other-
wise damage the automatic transmission.
You can find information on "Jump-starting" at
(
Ypage 559).
Fuses
Important safety notes
GWARNING
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 specifiednew fuses having the correct amperage.
!Only use fuses that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which
have the correct fuse rating for the system
concerned. Otherwise, components or sys-
tems could be damaged.
The fuses in your vehicle serve to close down
faulty circuits. If a fuse blows, all the compo-
nents on the circuit and their functions stop
operating.
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.
If a newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Before changing a fuse
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away
(
Ypage 171).
XSwitch off all electrical consumers.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 0in the igni-
tion lock and remove it (
Ypage 151).
or
XOn vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, make sure
the ignition is switched off (
Ypage 152).
All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
must be off.
The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
RFuse box in the engine compartment on the right-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed
in the direction of travel
RDashboard fuse box
RFuse box in the rear compartment on the
right-hand side of the vehicle, when viewedin the direction of travel
The fuse allocation chart is located in the
vehicle tool kit in the stowage compartment
under the trunk floor (
Ypage 550).
564Fuses
Breakdown assistance