towing MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2005 Owners Manual

Contents
Practical hints................................. 337
What to do if …?................................. 338
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 338
Lamp in center console................ 346
Vehicle status messages
in the multifunction display .......... 347
Where will I find ...? ........................... 379
First aid kit ................................... 379
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, spare wheel ........... 379
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 383
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 383
Locking the vehicle ...................... 384
Fuel filler flap ............................... 385
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 386
Tilt/sliding sunroof ...................... 386
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 387
SmartKey ..................................... 387
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 388
Replacing bulbs ................................. 389
Bulbs ............................................ 390
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 392
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 394Replacing wiper blades....................... 396
Removing wiper blades ................. 396
Installing wiper blades .................. 397
Flat tire ............................................... 398
Preparing the vehicle .................... 398
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 398
Battery................................................ 403
Disconnecting the battery............. 404
Removing the battery.................... 404
Charging and reinstalling the battery ...
404
Reconnecting the battery.............. 405
Jump starting ...................................... 406
Towing the vehicle .............................. 408
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 410
Fuses .................................................. 411
Aids for replacing fuses ................ 411
Fuse boxes in passenger
compartment ................................ 412
Fuse boxes in engine
compartment ................................ 413
Technical data.................................. 415
Parts service ...................................... 416
Warranty coverage ............................. 417
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 417
Identification labels ............................ 418
Layout of poly-V-belt drive.................. 419
S 430/S 500 (all models) ............. 419
S 55 AMG ..................................... 419
S 600 ............................................ 419
Engine ................................................ 420
Rims and tires .................................... 422
Same size tires ............................. 423
Mixed size tires ............................. 425
Spare wheel .................................. 426
Electrical system ................................ 427
Main dimensions and weights ............ 428
Main dimensions........................... 428
Weights......................................... 428

89 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Tow-away alarm
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.Arming tow-away alarm

Lock your vehicle.
The tow-away alarm is automatically
armed after about 30 seconds.Disarming tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm,
switch off the tow-away alarm feature be-
fore towing the vehicle, or when parking on
a surface subject to movement, such as a
ferry or auto train.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-
ed on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
by the Tele Aid system (
page 255)
provided Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated and
that necessary cellular service and GPS
coverage are available.

243 Controls in detail
Useful features
Vanity mirror in the rear
The vanity mirrors are located in the roof
lining for the rear seat passengers.
Opening the vanity mirror
Press the cover of the vanity mirror.
The vanity mirror folds down and the
mirror lamp comes on.
Closing the vanity mirror

Push the vanity mirror up until it engag-
es in place.
Storage compartments
!Before tilting a front seat backrest from
the reclined position to an upright posi-
tion, close the respective vanity mirror
in the rear. Otherwise the vanity mirror
may get damage.
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when stowing objects in the vehicle. Put lug-
g a g e o r c a r g o i n t h e t r u n k i f p o s s i b l e . D o n o t
pile luggage or cargo higher than the seat
backs.
Luggage nets cannot secure hard or heavy
objects.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
about and injuring vehicle occupants during
an accident.

259 Controls in detail
Useful features
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established. 
Describe the nature of the need for as-
sistance.
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to
tow your vehicle to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. For services such
as labor and/or towing, charges may ap-
ply. Refer to the Roadside Assistance Man-
ual for more information.Sign and Drive services (only available in
the USA): Services such as jump start, a
few gallons of fuel or the replacement of a
flat tire with the vehicle spare tire are ob-
tainable.
iThe indicator lamp in the Roadside As-
sistance button• remains illumi-
nated in red for approximately
ten seconds during the system
self-check after switching on ignition
(together with the SOS button and the
Information button¡).
See system self-check (
page 256)
when the indicator lamp does not come
on in red or stays on longer than ap-
proximately ten seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Roadside
Assistance button• is flashing con-
tinuously and no voice connection to
the Response Center was established,
the Tele Aid system could not initiate a
Roadside Assistance call (e.g. the rele-
vant cellular phone network is not
available). The message
CALL FAILED
appears in the multifunction display.
Roadside Assistance calls can be ter-
minated using the tbutton on the
multifunction steering wheel or the re-
spective button for ending a telephone
call on the COMAND headunit.

302 OperationTires and wheelsSteps for determining correct load limit
The following steps have been developed
as required of all manufacturers under Title
49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part
575 pursuant to the “National Traffic and
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”.
Step 1 (Vehicles equipped with placard
Example A)
Locate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on
your vehicle’s placard.
Step 1 (Vehicles equipped with placard
Example B)

Locate the heading “Vehicle Capacity
Weight” on your vehicle’s placard.
Step 2

Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.Step 3

Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kilo-
grams or XXX lbs.
Step 4

The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the “XXX”
amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will
be five 150 lbs. passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x150) = 650 lbs.)
Step 5

Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in step 4.Step 6 (if applicable)

If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this reduces
the available cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle (
page 304).
The following table shows examples on
how to calculate total and cargo load
capacities with varying seating configura-
tions and number and size of occupants.
The following examples use a load limit
of 1500 lbs. This is for illustration
purposes only. Make sure you are using
the actual load limit for your vehicle stated
on the vehicle’s placard (
page 300).

304 OperationTires and wheelsCertification label
Even after careful determination of the
combined weight of all occupants, cargo
and the trailer tongue load (if applicable)
(page 304) as to not exceed the permis-
sible load limit, you must make sure that
your vehicle never exceeds the Gross Vehi-
cle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the
front or rear axle. You can obtain the
GVWR and GAWR from the Certification la-
bel. The Certification Label can be found
on the driver’s door B-pillar, see “Technical
data” (
page 418).Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The
total weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
all cargo, and the trailer tongue load
(
page 304) must never exceed the
GVWR.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): The to-
tal allowable weight that can be carried by
a single axle (front or rear).
To assure that your vehicle does not ex-
ceed the maximum permissible weight
limits (GVWR and GAWR for front and rear
axle), have the loaded vehicle (including
driver, passengers and all cargo and, if ap-
plicable, trailer fully loaded) weighed on a
suitable commercial scale.Trailer tongue load
The tongue load of any trailer is an impor-
tant weight to measure because it affects
the load you can carry in your vehicle. If a
trailer is towed, the tongue load must be
added to the weight of all occupants riding
and any cargo you are carrying in the
vehicle. The tongue load typically is ten
percent of the trailer weight and every-
thing loaded in it.
Your Mercedes-Benz has been designed
primarily to carry passengers and their
cargo. Mercedes-Benz does not recom-
mend trailer towing with your vehicle.

337 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Where will I find ...?
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Opening/closing in an emergency
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Battery
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

380 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?The vehicle tool kit includes:

One interchangeable slot/Phillips
screwdriver


One towing eye bolt


One wheel bolt wrench with socket
wrench


One alignment bolt


One pair of gloves


One fuse extractor


One fuse chart for the main fuse box


Spare fusesVehicle jack
To prepare the vehicle jack for use

Remove the vehicle jack from the spare
wheel well under the trunk floor.

Push the crank handle up.

Turn the crank handle clockwise until it
engages (operational position).Storing the vehicle jack in the trunk

Retract the vehicle jack arm to the
base of the vehicle jack.

Push the crank handle up.

Turn the crank handle counterclock-
wise to the end of the stop (storage po-
sition).
!To prevent damage, always disengage
trunk floor handle from trunk lid and
lower trunk floor before closing the
trunk lid.


408 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleMercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment. This method is pref-
erable to other types of towing.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised (except vehi-
cles with 4MATIC) only so far as necessary
to have the vehicle moved to a safe loca-
tion where the recommended towing
methods can be employed.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with SmartKey in 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 89) and the automatic central
locking (
page 112).
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 ve-
hicle 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 or 1). 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 selector lever must
be in positionN 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 dis-
tances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a
speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).

409 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
!
To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the drive train, however, we
recommend the drive shaft be discon-
nected at the rear axle drive flange (ve-
hicles 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 sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol 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, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.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.iThe gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP and the SmartKey
will not turn in the starter switch if the
battery is disconnected or discharged.
See information on the battery
(page 403) or on jump starting
(page 406).
iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use, turn
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate the combina-
tion switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.