tow MERCEDES-BENZ C55AMG 2005 W203 Owner's Guide

350 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsFront turn signal lamp bulb
Turn bulb socket3 with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove it.

Press gently onto the bulb and turn it
counterclockwise out of bulb
socket3.

Press new bulb gently into bulb
socket3 and turn clockwise until it
engages.

Place bulb socket3 back into the
lamp and turn it clockwise.Parking and standing lamp bulb

Press the clamp on housing cover2
and remove it.

Pull out bulb socket5 with the bulb.

Pull the bulb out of bulb socket5.

Press the new bulb into bulb socket5.

Press bulb socket5 back into the
lamp.

Align housing cover2 and press until
it engages.Side marker lamp

Carefully slide the lamp towards the
rear in direction of arrows.

Remove the front end first.

Turn the bulb socket with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove it.

Pull the bulb out of the bulb socket.

Insert the new bulb into the bulb
socket.

Place the bulb socket back into the
lamp and turn it clockwise.

To reinstall the lamp, set the rear end in
the bumper and let the front end
engage.

364 Practical hintsJump startingThe battery is located in the engine
compartment on the right hand side. The
terminals for jump starting are located in
front of the battery.
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Apply parking brake.

Shift gear selector lever to positionP
(manual transmission to Neutral).1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive under hood terminal in front of
discharged battery
3Negative under hood terminal in front
of discharged battery
4Negative terminal of charged battery

Connect positive terminal1 of the
charged battery with positive under
hood terminal2 in front of the
discharged battery with the jumper
cables. Clamp cable to charged
battery1 first.

Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.

Connect negative terminal4 of the
charged battery with negative under
hood terminal3 in front of the
discharged battery with the jumper
cables. Clamp cable to charged
battery4 first.

Start the engine of the disabled
vehicle.
You can now again turn on the electrical
consumers. Do not turn on the lights under
any circumstances.

Remove the jumper cables first from
negative terminals4 and3 and then
from positive terminals1 and2.
You can now turn on the lights.

Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 284).
!Vehicles with automatic transmission
and/or 4MATIC:
Do not tow-start the vehicle.

365 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the
vehicle may be towed with all wheels on
the ground or front wheels raised (except
vehicles with 4MATIC) only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with the SmartKey in the starter
switch turned to position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm*
(page 85) and deactivate the auto-
matic central locking (
page 145).
!Vehicles with automatic transmission
and/or 4MATIC:
Do not tow-start the vehicle.!Vehicles with 4MATIC:
Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing
so could damage the transfer case,
which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground.
Observe instructions for towing the
vehicle with all wheels on the ground.
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised (not permissible for vehicles
with 4MATIC), the engine must be shut
off (SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or1). Otherwise the ESP will
immediately be engaged and will apply
the rear wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the gear selector lever
must be in positionN (manual trans-
mission: gears disengaged) and the
SmartKey must be in starter switch
position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground or the front axle raised,
the vehicle may be towed only for
distances up to 30 miles (50 km) and
at a speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).

366 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
!
To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the drivetrain, however, we
recommend the drive shaft be discon-
nected at the rear axle drive flange
(vehicles with 4MATIC: disconnected at
the front and rear axle drive flanges) for
any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.
Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
as that will be necessary to adequately
control the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the SmartKey is in
starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock,
remove SmartKey from starter switch and
reinsert.
iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use,
switch on ignition and activate the
combination switch for the left or right
turn signal in the usual manner – only
the selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the
hazard warning flasher will operate
again.

367 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the
following:
With the automatic central locking
activated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, the vehicle doors
lock if the left front wheel as well as the
right rear wheel are turning at vehicle
speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm*
(page 85).
To prevent the vehicle doors from
locking, deactivate the automatic
central locking (
page 145).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed
towing eye bolt. Never attach tow
cable, tow rope or tow rod to vehicle
chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iIf the battery is disconnected or
discharged

the SmartKey will not turn in the
starter switch. For more informa-
tion, see “Battery” (
page 360)
and “Jump starting” (page 363).


the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP. For informa-
tion on manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever
see (
page 340).

368 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleInstalling towing eye bolt
1Cover on right side of front bumper.2Cover on right side of rear bumper.Removing cover

Press mark on cover1 or2 in
direction of arrows.

Lift cover off to reveal threaded hole for
towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the compartment under-
neath the trunk floor).

Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.
Reinstalling cover

Fit cover1 or2 and snap into place.

370 Practical hintsFusesMain fuse box in passenger compartment
The main fuse box is located in the passen-
ger compartment on the driver’s side of
the cockpit.
1Main fuse box cover
Opening fuse box
Open the driver’s door.

Pull fuse box cover1 open with a
screw driver or similar tool (see arrow).

Remove fuse box cover1 rearward.Closing fuse box

Attach fuse box cover1 in the front.

Fold fuse box cover1 in until it
engages.
Fuse box in engine compartment
The fuse box is located in the engine
compartment on the driver’s side.
1Cover
2Screws
3RetainerRemoving cover

Twist screws2
90° counterclockwise.

Lift the rear of cover1.

Slide out retainer3 and remove
cover1 by pulling towards front.
Opening fuse box
4Fuse box cover
5Clamps

With a dry cloth, remove any moisture
from the fuse box.

Release clamps5.

Remove fuse box cover4.

405 Index
A
ABS 77, 399
ABS control 77
Indicator lamp 25
Malfunction indicator lamp 302
Messages in display 310
Accelerator position,
automatic transmission* 163
Accident
In case of 53
Activating
Air conditioning (cooling) 181
Air recirculation mode 179
Anti-theft alarm system* 84
Central locking (control system) 145
Climate control 175
Climate control system 177
Defrosting 178
Easy-entry/exit feature* 146
Electric air pump 358
ESP 81Exterior headlamps 49
Exterior lamps 110
Exterior rear view mirror
parking position* 170
Hazard warning flasher 114
Headlamps 49
High beam headlamps 50
High beams 113
Ignition 33
Immobilizer 56, 83
Low beam headlamps 49
Manual shift program
(C 55 AMG only) 166
Rear window defroster 173
Seat heating* 105
Tow-away alarm* 85
Windshield wipers 51
Adding
Coolant 283
Engine oil 281
Additional turn signals 345
Adjustable air vents,
rear passenger compartment 182Adjusting 35
Air distribution 178
Air volume 178
Backrest contour 104
Backrest side bolsters 104
Backrest tilt, manual seat 36
Backrest tilt, power seat* 38
Exterior rear view mirrors 41
Folding back rear seat
head restraints, electrical 102
Folding back rear seat
head restraints, manual 102
Head restraint height,
manual seat 37
Head restraint height,
power seat* 38
Head restraint height, rear seats 101
Head restraint tilt, manual seat 37
Head restraint tilt, power seat* 39
Head restraint tilt, rear seats 103
Instrument cluster illumination 117
Interior rear view mirror 41
Manual seat 36
Mirrors 41

406 Index
Multicontour seat* 104
Placing upright rear seat
head restraints 102
Power seat* 38
Rear seat head restraints 101
Seat belt height 45
Seat cushion depth 104
Seat cushion tilt, manual seat 36
Seat cushion tilt, power seat* 38
Seat fore and aft adjustment,
manual seat 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment,
power seat* 38
Seat height, manual seat 36
Seat height, power seat* 38
Seats 35
Steering column height,
electrical* 41
Steering column height,
manual 40
Steering column length,
electrical* 41
Steering column length,
manual 40
Steering wheel 39Adjusting air distribution
and volume 178
Adjusting sound functions 187
Adjusting the volume 187
Aids for changing fuses 369
Air bags 59
BabySmart
TM deactivation
system 70, 399
Children 60
Front 63
Passenger 63
Safety guidelines 62
Side impact 64
Window curtain 64
Air conditioning (cooling) 181
Turning off 181
Turning on 181
Air conditioning refrigerant 390
Air distribution
Adjusting 178
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air pump, electric
Turning on 358Air recirculation mode 179
Activating 179
Deactivating 180
Air vents, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 182
Air volume
Adjusting 178
Alarm
Audible 76, 83
Canceling 84, 86
Visual 83
Alarm system
Anti-theft* 83
Tow-away* 85
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 355, 399
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 395
Antiglare
Automatic* 169
Manual 168
Antilock Brake System see ABS
Anti-theft alarm system*
Arming 84
Canceling alarm 84
Disarming 84

407 Index
Anti-theft systems 83
Anti-theft alarm system* 83
Immobilizer 83
Tow-away alarm* 85
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest
Changing inclination of 242
Storage spaces 242
Armrest in rear passenger
compartment 243
Ashtrays 245
ATF 282
AUDIO menu 127
Selecting radio station 128
Selecting satellite radio* station 128
Audio system 183
Audio and telephone, operation 183
Button and soft key operation 186
CD* operation 201
Operating and display elements 184
Operating safety 183Operation 186
Radio operation 191
Switching off 187
Switching on 186
Telephone* operation 208
Automatic antiglare* for rear view
mirror 169
Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating (control
system) 145
Automatic headlamp mode 110
Automatic lighting control
Activating 115
Deactivating 115
Automatic locking when driving 96
Automatic shift program
Automatic transmission* 162
Automatic time change (Daylight Saving
Time (DST) summer/winter) 139
Automatic Transmission Fluid see ATFAutomatic transmission* 156
Accelerator position 163
Automatic shift program 162
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) 167
Fluid level 282
Gear ranges 159
Gear selector lever 47, 156
Gear selector lever position 156, 160
Gear shifting malfunctions 167
Kickdown 163
Kickdown, manual shift program
(C 55 AMG only) 167
Manual shift program
(C 55 AMG only) 165
Manual shifting 158
One-touch gearshifting 158
Program mode selector switch,
automatic shift program 162
Program mode selector switch,
manual shift program
(C 55 AMG only) 166