
Always make sure that neither you nor the bat-
tery is electrostatically charged. A build-up of
electrostatic charge can be caused, for exam-
ple:
Rby wearing clothing made from synthetic
fibers
Rdue to friction between clothing and seats
Rif you push or pull the battery across the car-
pet or other synthetic materials
Rif you wipe the battery with a cloth
GWARNING
During the charging process, a battery produ-
ces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or
sparks are created, the hydrogen gas can
ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
RMake sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into con- tact with vehicle parts.
RNever place metal objects or tools on a bat-
tery.
RIt is important that you observe the descri-
bed order of the battery terminals when
connecting and disconnecting a battery.
RWhen jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
RIt is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and dis-
connecting the jumper cables.
RNever connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running.
GWARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over
the battery. Keep children away from batter-
ies. Wash away battery acid immediately with
plenty of clean water and seek medical atten-
tion.
HEnvironmental note
Batteries contain pollutants.
It is illegal to dispose of them
with the household rubbish.
They must be collected sep-
arately and disposed of in an
environmentally responsible
recycling system.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or to a col-
lection point for used batter-
ies.
!Have the battery regularly checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Comply with the service intervals in the Main- tenance Booklet, or contact a qualified spe-
cialist workshop for more information.
!Always have work on batteries carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop.
Should it, in exceptional circumstances, be
absolutely necessary to disconnect the 12-
volt battery yourself, please observe the fol-
lowing:
RSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
RSwitch off the ignition.
RDisconnect the negative terminal first and
then the positive terminal.
After the work has been done, install the bat- tery and replace the cover of the positive ter-
minal clamp firmly.
Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking are
prohibited when handling the bat-
tery. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid contact
with skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective clothing,
especially gloves, apron and face-
guard.
Rinse any acid spills immediately
with clear water. Contact a physician
if necessary.
276Battery (vehicle)
Breakdo wn assis tance

Jump-starting
For the jump-starting procedure, use only the jump-starting connection point in the engine com-
partment, consisting of a positive terminal and a ground point.
GWARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over the
battery. Keep children away from batteries. Wash away battery acid immediately with plenty of
clean water and seek medical attention.
GWARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient ven-
tilation while charging and jump-starting. Do not lean over a battery.
GWARNING
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.
RMake sure that the positive terminal of a connected battery does not come into contact with
vehicle parts.
RNever place metal objects or tools on a battery.
RIt is important that you observe the described order of the battery terminals when connecting
and disconnecting a battery.
RWhen jump-starting, make sure that the battery poles with identical polarity are connected.
RIt is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and disconnecting
the jumper cables.
RNever connect or disconnect the battery terminals while the engine is running.
GWARNING
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.
!Avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Otherwise, the catalytic converter could be
damaged by the non-combusted fuel.
If the indicator/warning lamps do not light up at low temperatures, it is very likely that the dis-
charged battery has frozen. In this case, you may neither charge the battery nor jump-start the
vehicle. The service life of a thawed-out battery may be shorter. The starting characteristics can be
impaired, particularly at low temperatures. Have the thawed-out battery checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.
278Jump-starting
Breakdown assistance

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.
RDo not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
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.
RBare parts of the terminal clamp do not come into contact with other metal parts while the jumper
cables are connected to the battery.
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 j.
XMake sure that the ignition is switched off. All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster must be
off. When using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position uin the ignition lock and remove it
(
Ypage 122).
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.
XPress cover :of positive terminal ;down (in the direction of the arrow) and turn it clockwise.
To expose positive terminal ;, press cover:down further.
XConnect positive terminal ;on your vehicle to positive terminal =of donor battery Busing the
jumper cable, always begin with positive terminal ;on your own vehicle first.
Jump-starting279
Breakdown assistance
Z

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 pos-
itive terminal ;and positive terminal =. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle
first.
XAfter the jumper cable is removed, return cover :of positive terminal ;to the 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.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weight
of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate (
Ypage 311).
!When Active Brake Assist, Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC 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:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could be
damaged.
!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.
!When towing away vehicles with KEYLESS-
GO, us e the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. The automatic transmission may oth- erwise shift to position jwhen you open the
driver's or front-passenger door, which could
damage 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 vehicle.
It is better to have the vehicle transported than
to have it towed away.
The automatic transmission must be in position
i when the vehicle is being towed away.
280Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

XReleaseth eelectric parking brake.
XLeav eth eSmartKey in position 2in th eigni-
tion lock.
In order to signal achang eof direction when
towin gth evehicl ewit hth ehazard warning
lamp sswitched on ,use th ecombination switch
as usual. In this case, only th eindicator lamp s
for th edirection of travel flash. When you reset
th ecombination switch ,th ehazard warning
flasher sstart flashin gagain .
It is important that you observ eth esafet y
instruction swhen towin gaway your vehicl e
(
Ypage 280).
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
!
The ignition mus tbe switched off if you are
towin gth evehicl ewit hth erear axl eraised.
Intervention by ES P
®could otherwise dam-
age th ebrak esystem.
!Vehicles wit hautomatic transmission mus t
no tbe towed wit hth erear axl eraised. The
vehicle/traile rcombination may otherwise
swerve or eve nrol lover.
Transporting the vehicle
Vehicles with automatic transmission
!When th evehicl eis loade dfor transport, th e
fron tand rear axles mus tbe stationary and on
th esam etransportation vehicle. Positioning
ove rth econnection poin tof th etranspor t
vehicl eis no tpermitted. The driv etrain may
otherwise be damaged.
All vehicles
!You may only secure th evehicl eby th e
wheels, no tby part sof th evehicl esuc has
axl eor steering components. Otherwise, th e
vehicl ecould be damaged.
The towin geye can be used to pull th evehicl e
onto atrailer or transporte rfor transporting pur-
poses.
XTurn th eSmartKey to position 2in th eigni-
tion lock.
XShift th etransmission to position i.
As soon as th evehicle ha sbeen loaded:
XPreven tth evehicl efrom rollin gaway by
applyin gth eelectric parking brake.
XShift th etransmission to position j.
XTurn theSmartKey to position uin th eigni-
tion loc kand remove it .
XSecureth evehicle.
Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
!
Vehicles wit hautomatic transmission mus t
no tbe tow-started. You could otherwise dam-
age th eautomatic transmission .
You can fin dinformation on "Jump-starting "at
(
Ypage 278).
Fuses
Important safety notes
GWARNIN G
If you manipulat eor bridge afault yfus eor if
you replace it wit h afusewit h a higher amper-
age, th eelectric cables could be overloaded.
This could result in afire. There is aris kof an
acciden tand injury.
Always replace fault yfuses wit hth especifie d
ne wfuses having th ecorrec tamperage .
Blown fuses mus tbe replace dwit hfuses of th e
sam erating ,whic hyou can recogniz eby th e
color and value .The fus erating sare listed in th e
fus eallocation chart .
282Fuses
Breakdown assistance