towing MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SALOON 2008 Service Manual

Trailer towing
2421
Telescopic lever
2 Indicator lamp
X Place the protective cap on the ball cou-
pling. G
Risk of injury
Make sure that no persons or animals are
in the pivoting range of the ball coupling.
Otherwise, they could be injured.
X Pull telescopic lever 1out forwards.
X Pull telescopic lever 1upwards.
The ball coupling disengages and folds
down under the rear bumper. Indicator
lamp 2flashes.
X Guide telescopic lever 1back again. X
Press the ball coupling in the direction of
the arrow by hand until it engages behind
the bumper.
Indicator lamp 2goes out and the mes-
sage in the multi-function display disap-
pears. Trailer power supply
The trailer socket of your vehicle is equipped
at the factory with a permanent power supply.
The permanent power supply is supplied via
trailer socket pin 9.
! You can connect accessories with a max-
imum power consumption of 240 W to the
permanent power supply.
You must not charge a trailer battery using
the power supply.
You can obtain further information about
installing the trailer electrics from a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Trailer with 7-pin connector
If your trailer has a 7-pin connector, you can
connect it to the 13-pin socket on the ball
coupling using an adapter or, if necessary, an
adapter cable. Both of these can be obtained
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Operation
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251
Where will I find...?
...........................252
Display messages ............................. 257
Troubleshooting ................................ 282
Locking/unlocking in an emer-
gency ................................................. 306
Resetting triggered NECK-PRO
head restraints .................................. 309
Changing the batteries .....................310
Changing the bulbs ...........................311
Replacing the wiper blades ..............315
Flat tyre ............................................. 317
Battery ............................................... 329
Jump-starting .................................... 333
Towing and tow-starting ..................337
Fuses .................................................. 340 Practical advice
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Towing and tow-starting
337Towing and tow-starting
Points to remember
G
Risk of accident
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
R the engine is not running
R there is a brake system malfunction
R the voltage supply or the vehicle's elec-
trical system is damaged
The electric power steering and the brake
force boosting effect do not work when the
engine is not running. Greater braking force
will then be required and the brake pedal
travel will be longer. If necessary, depress
the brake pedal with maximum force.
Do not tow the vehicle if the key cannot be
turned in the ignition lock. If this is the case,
the steering is locked and the vehicle can-
not be steered.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle. G
Risk of accident
The vehicle is braked when HOLD is activa-
ted. Therefore, deactivate HOLD if the vehi-
cle is to be towed.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
When towing, observe the legal requirements
in all countries concerned.
! When towing, pull away slowly and with-
out jerking. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged. Do not use
the towing eye for recovery.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
With towing distances over 50 km, the
entire vehicle needs to be lifted up and
transported.
! Only secure the tow cable or towing bar
to the towing eyes. You may otherwise
damage the vehicle. R
Vehicles with an automatic transmission*
must not be tow-started.
R If the engine does not start, try jump start-
ing (Y page 333).
R If it is not possible to jump-start the vehicle,
have it towed to the nearest qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
R If the vehicle has suffered transmission
damage, only tow it with the propeller shaft
disconnected.
R The automatic transmission* selector lever
must be in the Nposition when towing the
vehicle away.
R If you are towing the vehicle over a consid-
erable distance, this must only be done
with the rear axle raised.
R The ignition must be switched off if you are
towing the vehicle with the front/rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system.
R Vehicles with 4MATIC* may not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised.
R Before towing the vehicle, make sure that
the battery is connected and charged. Oth-
erwise: Practical advice
* optional
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Towing and tow-starting
338-
you cannot switch on the ignition
- you cannot move the selector lever
to N(on vehicles with automatic trans-
mission*)
- you have no support when braking
i Switch off the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 137).
You could otherwise be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle. Fitting the towing eye
Opening the front cover The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are located
at the front and rear under the covers on the right-hand side of the vehicle when viewed in
the direction of travel. 1
Cover
X Push cover 1back in the direction of the
arrow along its entire lower edge.
X Take cover 1off the opening. Opening the rear cover 1
Cover
X Press cover 1back in the direction of the
arrow.
X Take cover 1off the opening.
Securing the towing eye X
Take the towing eye and the wheel wrench
from the vehicle tool kit ( Ypage 254).
X Screw in the towing eye clockwise to the
stop.
X Insert the wheel wrench handle into the
towing eye and tighten. Practical advice
* optional
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Towing and tow-starting
339Towing the vehicle
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
With towing distances over 50 km, the
entire vehicle needs to be lifted up and
transported.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC* may not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised.
! The engine must be switched off (key in
ignition lock in position 0or position 1) if
the vehicle is being towed with the rear axle
raised or if the parking brake is being tested
on a dynamometer. Intervention by ESP ®
could otherwise damage the brake system.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Shift to neutral. Vehicles with automatic transmission* X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Move the selector lever to N. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
Please note:
R Vehicles with an automatic transmission*
must not be tow-started.
R The battery must be connected.
R The engine and catalytic converter must be
cold.
R Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift to neutral. X
Tow the vehicle or let it roll.
X Shift to a suitable gear and bring the clutch
pedal up slowly. Do not depress the accel-
erator pedal.
The engine is started. Removing the towing eye
X Take the wheel wrench from the vehicle
tool kit ( Ypage 254).
X Insert the wheel wrench handle into the
towing eye and turn it anti-clockwise.
X Unscrew the towing eye.
X Replace the cover and press it until it
engages.
X Return the towing eye and the wheel
wrench to the vehicle tool kit. Practical advice
* optional
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Fuses
340 Transporting the vehicle
The towing eyes can be used to pull the vehi-
cle onto a trailer or transporter for transport-
ing purposes.
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components. The
vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Shift to neutral.
Vehicles with automatic transmission* X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Move the selector lever to N. Fuses
Notes on changing fuses
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 will
fail.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognise by
the colour and value. The fuse ratings are lis-
ted in the fuse allocation chart. A Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre will be happy to advise
you. G
Risk of fire
Only use fuses that have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which have
the correct fuse rating for the systems con-
cerned. Do not attempt to repair or bridge
faulty fuses. Otherwise, a circuit overload
could cause a fire. Have the cause traced
and rectified at a qualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
If the newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. !
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 are located in various fuse boxes:
R Main fuse box on the driver's side of the
dashboard
R Fuse box in the boot/luggage compart-
ment on the left-hand side of the vehicle
Fuse allocation chart The fuse allocation chart is in the main fuse
box in the dashboard.
Before changing a fuse
X Park the vehicle.
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock. Practical advice
* optional
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Vehicle identification plates
346phones/wireless devices in the vehicle.
This also ensures that interference
between these devices and the vehicle's
electronics is kept to a minimum. If instal-
led, the exterior aerial conducts the elec-
tromagnetic fields transmitted by a mobile
phone to the exterior of the vehicle. Frequency range Maximum trans-
mission output
(watts)
Short wave
(< 50 MHz) 100
4 m waveband 20
2 m waveband 50
70 cm waveband 35
25 cm waveband 10
!
If electrical or electronic equipment
which does not comply with the above
installation conditions is operated inside
the vehicle, the vehicle's operating permit
may be invalidated (EU Directive
95/54/EC) - Automotive EMC directive) Vehicle identification plates
Vehicle identification plate with vehi-
cle identification number (VIN) and
paint code number
The vehicle identification plate is located at
the bottom of the door frame on the front-
passenger side. 1
Vehicle identification plate
X Open the driver's door.
You will see vehicle identification plate
1. Vehicle identification plate (example)
1
Vehicle identification plate
2 Vehicle manufacturer
3 EU type approval number
4 Vehicle identification number (VIN)
5 Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight
6 Maximum permissible towing weight
7 Maximum permissible front axle load
8 Maximum permissible rear axle load
9 Paint code number Technical data
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Vehicle weights
370 E 200
KOMPRESSOR E 230 E 280 E 280 4MATIC
Maximum per-
missible front
axle load Saloon 1,005 kg 1,045 kg 1,045 kg 1,150 kg
Estate 975 kg 1,005 kg 1,005 kg 1,110 kg
Maximum per-
missible rear
axle load Saloon 1,145 kg 1,175 kg 1,185 kg 1,200 kg
Estate 1,320 kg 1,345 kg 1,355 kg 1,370 kg
Towing a trailer Saloon 1,195 kg 1,225 kg 1,235 kg 1,250 kg
Estate 1,395 kg 1,420 kg 1,430 kg 1,430 kg
Maximum roof
load 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg
Maximum boot
load
57 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg
E 350 E 350 4MATIC E 500 E 500 4MATIC
Unladen weight
(in accordance
with EC direc-
tive) Saloon 1,690 kg 1,785 kg 1,785 kg 1,880 kg
Estate 1,810 kg 1,910 kg 1,895 kg 1,990 kg
57
On vehicles with AIRMATIC and on the Estate it is important to observe the maximum permissible rear axle load. Technical data
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Vehicle weights
371E 350 E 350 4MATIC E 500 E 500 4MATIC
Maximum per-
missible gross
vehicle weight Saloon 2,215 kg 2,310 kg 2,310 kg 2,405 kg
Estate 2,385 kg 2,485 kg 2,460 kg 2,535 kg
Maximum per-
missible front
axle load Saloon 1,060 kg 1,145 kg 1,115 kg 1,200 kg
Estate 1,010 kg 1,110 kg 1,080 kg 1,155 kg
Maximum per-
missible rear
axle load Saloon 1,200 kg 1,210 kg 1,240 kg 1,250 kg
Estate 1,375 kg 1,375 kg 1,380 kg 1,380 kg
Towing a trailer Saloon 1,250 kg 1,260 kg 1,290 kg 1,300 kg
Estate 1,430 kg 1,430 kg 1,430 kg 1,430 kg
Maximum roof
load 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg
Maximum boot
load 58 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg
58
On vehicles with AIRMATIC and on the Estate it is important to observe the maximum permissible rear axle load. Technical data
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Vehicle weights
372 E 63 AMG E 200 CDI E 220 CDI E 280 CDI
Unladen weight
(in accordance
with EC direc-
tive) Saloon 1,840 kg 1,615 kg 1,615 kg 1,715 kg
Estate 1,955 kg 1,785 kg 1,785 kg 1,845 kg
Maximum per-
missible gross
vehicle weight Saloon 2,365 kg 2,140 kg 2,140 kg 2,240 kg
Estate 2,460 kg 2,360 kg 2,360 kg 2,420 kg
Maximum per-
missible front
axle load Saloon 1,165 kg 1,040 kg 1,040 kg 1,105 kg
Estate 1,110 kg 1,025 kg 1,025 kg 1,060 kg
Maximum per-
missible rear
axle load Saloon 1,245 kg 1,145 kg 1,145 kg 1,180 kg
Estate 1,350 kg 1,335 kg 1,335 kg 1,360 kg
Towing a trailer Saloon – 1,195 kg 1,195 kg 1,230 kg
Estate – 1,385 kg 1,385 kg 1,410 kg
Maximum roof
load 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg
Maximum boot
load
59 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg
59
On vehicles with AIRMATIC and on the Estate it is important to observe the maximum permissible rear axle load. Technical data
211_AKB; 2; 5, en-GB
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