towing MERCEDES-BENZ E350 2006 W211 User Guide

424 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit is stored in the com-
partment underneath the trunk floor
(page 422).
The vehicle tool kit includes:


One pair of universal pliers


One towing eye bolt


One wheel wrench


One alignment bolt


One fuse extractor


Spare fuses


Collapsible wheel chock


A pair of gloves
Setting up the collapsible wheel chock
The collapsible wheel chock serves to
additionally secure the vehicle, e.g. while
changing the wheel.1Tilt the plates upward
2Fold the lower plate outward
3Insert the plate

Tilt both plates upward1.

Fold the lower plate outward2.

Guide the tabs of the lower plate all the
way into the openings of the base
plate3.
Vehicle jackWarning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use,
especially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure the jack arm is
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.

457 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-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 and the
automatic central locking.
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 gear 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).

458 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 (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 electrohy-
draulic brake system


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 certain the SmartKey is in
starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in the 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
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes may only be applied to
the front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adapt your driving style according-
ly. For more information, refer to
“Electrohydraulic brake system”
(page 97).
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the steering system. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that
a considerably higher degree of effort is nec-
essary to steer the vehicle. Adapt your driv-
ing accordingly.

459 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
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.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approximately
9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 103).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 129).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
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.
For more information see “Battery”
(page 450) or “Jump starting”
(page 454).
For information on manual unlocking of
the gear selector lever,
see (page 428).

460 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleInstalling towing eye bolt
Front of vehicle
1Cover on right side of front bumperTo remove cover:

Press mark on cover1 in direction of
arrow.

Lift cover1 off to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the storage compart-
ment under the trunk floor).

Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.
To reinstall cover:

Fit cover1 and snap into place.Rear of vehicle
2Cover on right side of rear bumper
To remove cover:

Pull cover2 in direction of arrow.

Fold cover2 down to reveal the
threaded hole for the towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the storage compart-
ment under the trunk floor).

Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.
To reinstall cover:

Fit cover2 and snap into place.

505 Index
Drive-Dynamic seat* with multicontour
features 134
Massage function 135
Driving
Abroad 311
Hydroplaning 307
In winter 309
Instructions 47, 303
Problems 58
Safety systems 92
Through standing water 310
With Distronic* 257
Driving safety systems
4MATIC 100
ABS 92
BAS 94
Electrohydraulic brake system 97
ESP
®
94, 494
E
Easy-entry/exit feature 43, 175
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical system, Technical data 481Electrohydraulic brake system 494
Activating/deactivating 98
Driving hints 99
Messages in display 400, 401
Self-check 99
Warning lamp 97
Electronic Stability Program see
ESP
®
94, 494
Emergency calls
Tele Aid calls 287
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 196
Emergency operations 427
Fuel filler flap 428
Gear selector lever, Unlocking 428
Locking/unlocking the vehicle 426
Remote door unlock 292
Tilt/sliding sunroof* or tilt/sliding pan-
el*, Manual operation 429
Trunk lid, Releasing from inside 127
Trunk lid, Unlocking 427
Emergency tensioning device see ETDEmergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 454
First aid kit 422
Flat tire, changing 441
Fuses
Hazard warning flasher 146
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 374, 375, 376, 377, 378,
379, 380, 381, 383
Roadside Assistance 12
Towing the vehicle 457
Emission control 313
Emission control information label 468
Emission control system warranties 10
Emission control vacuum line routing dia-
gram label 468

516 IndexTemperature
Display mode
Interior temperature 207, 221
Setting display unit
Tether attachment points, see Cihildren in
the vehicle
Tie-down rings, Trunk 275
Tightening torque 447, 498
Time 169, 170
Setting minutes 169
TIN 355
Tire and Loading Information
Placard 332
Tire and Loading Terminology 353
Tire inflation pressure
Checking
Tire Pressure Monitoring System*
(TPMS*), (USA only)
Checking tire pressure
electronically 339
Tires 328, 473
Air pressure
Care and maintenance 329
Chains 359
Cleaning 330
Direction of rotation, Spinning 331Driving instructions 307
Important notes, Tire inflation
pressure 338
Inflation pressure 339, 343
Information Placard 332
Inspection 329
Load rating 355
Messages in display 416
MOExtended system* 343, 448
Ply composition and material
used 355
Problems under-/overinflation 343
Retreads 328
Rims and tires 473
Rotation 356
Service life 329
Sizes 475
Snow 358
Spare wheel
Speed rating 308, 346, 356
Storing 330
Temperature 338, 352
Terminology 353
Tire Identification Number see TIN
TPMS malfunction telltale 381
Traction 308, 356Tread 356
Tread depth 330, 358
Treadwear indicators 356
Wear pattern 356, 357
Winter 358
Tools 424
Top tether see Children in the vehicle
Tow-away alarm 103
Towing eye bolt 460
Towing the vehicle 457
Traction 189, 356
Transmission fluid level 324
Transmission gear slector lever see Gear
selector lever
Traveling abroad 311
Tread 356
Tread depth 330, 358
Treadwear indicators 356
Trip computer 178
Trip odometer 151

517 Index
Trunk
Cargo area
Closing the lid 121
Fuse box 462
Lamp 149
Lock button, KEYLESS-GO* 117
Message in display 419
Opening 110, 120
Tie-down rings 275
Trunk lid emergency release 127
Unlocking in an emergency 427
Valet locking 128
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 367
Messages in display 415
Replacing bulbs 437
Turn signals 55
Additional in mirrors 434
Bulbs 434
Cleaning lenses 367
Indicator lamps 25
Turning off engine 62U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 356
Units, Settings
Speedometer 166
Temperature 166
Unleaded gasoline, Premium 488
Uphill driving
Cruise control 244
Upholstery
Cleaning 371
Useful features 276
V
Vacuum line routing diagram label 468
Valet locking 128
Vehicle
Battery 450
Care 364
Control system, settings menu 153
Dimensions 482
Individual settings 163, 165
Locking/unlocking 34, 60, 106
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency 426, 427
Lowering 447Modifications and alterations, Operat-
ing safety 16
Towing 457
Washing 364
Weights 483
Vehicle capacity weight 356
Vehicle Identification Number see VIN
Vehicle jack 422, 424
Vehicle level control see Airmatic DC (Dual
Control)*
Vehicle lighting 318
Vehicle loading
Cargo tie-down rings 275
Instructions 274
Load limit 334
Roof rack* 268
Ski sack* 268
Split rear bench seat* 271
Terminology 353
Vehicle maximum load on the tire 356
Vehicle Recovery services, Stolen (Tele
Aid) 293
Vehicle status message memory 162
Vehicle tool kit 424
Vehicle washing 366
VIN 499