towing MERCEDES-BENZ E350 4MATIC 2011 W212 Service Manual

Zone map for North America
Zone map for South America
XPress and hold button = for approximately
three seconds.
The currently selected zone appears in
compass display ;.XTo select the zone: press button =
repeatedly until the desired zone is
selected.
The zone has been selected when compass
display ; shows the point of the compass.
This takes a few seconds.XTo calibrate the compass: make sure that
there is sufficient space for you to drive ina circle without impeding the remaining
traffic.
In order to calibrate the compass correctly,
observe the following points:
R calibrate the compass in the open and not
in the vicinity of steel structures or high-
voltage power lines
R switch off electrical consumers such as
climate control, the windscreen wipers or
the rear window heating
R close all doors and the trunk lid/tailgate
XSwitch on the ignition.XPress and hold button = for approximately
six seconds until the C symbol appears in
compass display ;.XDrive a full circle at approximately 3 mph
(5 km/h) to 6 mph (10 km/h).
Once the calibration has been successfully
completed, the current heading appears in
compass display ;.
Floormat on the driver's side
GWarning!
Whenever you are using a floormat, make sure
there is enough clearance and that the
floormat is securely fastened.
The floormat should always be securely
fastened using the fastening equipment.
Before driving off, check that the floormat is
securely in place and adjust it if necessary. A
loose floormat could slip and hinder proper
functioning of the pedals.
Do not place several floormats on top of each
other as this may impair pedal movement.
304FeaturesLoading, stowing and features
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XSlide seat backwards.XTo install: place the floormat in position.XPress floormat eyelets : onto retainer
pins ;.
XTo remove: pull the floormats off
retainers ;.
XRemove the floormat.Features305Loading, stowing and featuresBA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 305Z

Always follow the instructions on the
particular container. Always open your
vehicle's doors or windows when cleaning the
inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and keep
them out of reach of children.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film.HEnvironmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible
manner.
! Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period right after cleaning it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after
cleaning. Braking heats the brake discs and
brake pads, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked up.
Exterior care
Automatic car wash
GWarning!
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. This could cause an accident. For
this reason, you must drive particularly
carefully after washing the vehicle until the
brakes have dried.GRisk of accident
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivate the HOLD function and DISTRONIC
PLUS before the vehicle is washed in an
automatic car wash.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
! Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
! In car washes with a towing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission
is in transmission position N, otherwise the
vehicle could be damaged.
R Vehicles with a SmartKey:
Do not remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock. Do not open the driver's
door or front-passenger door when the
engine is switched off. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission selects park
position P automatically and locks the
wheels. You can prevent this by shifting
the automatic transmission to N
beforehand.
R Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO:
Do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position P
automatically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N:
314CareMaintenance and care
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Vehicle equipment ............................322
After an accident .............................. 323
Where will I find...? ...........................323
Flat tire .............................................. 326
Battery ............................................... 338
Jump-starting .................................... 341
Towing and tow-starting ..................343
Fuses .................................................. 345321Roadside AssistanceBA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 321

Behind the side trim panel
XOpen the right-hand side trim panel if the
first-aid kit is in the side trim panel.
XRemove first-aid kit :.
iCheck the expiration date on the first-aid
kit at least once a year. Replace the
contents if necessary, and replace missing
contents.
Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit can be found in the
stowage well under the trunk floor/cargo
compartment floor.
iVehicles without a spare wheel are not
equipped with the tools needed to change
a wheel when they leave the factory, e.g.
jack or lug wrench. Some tools for changing
a wheel are specific to the vehicle. To
obtain tools approved for your vehicle, visit
a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
XSedan with TIREFIT kit32: swing the trunk
floor upwards (Y page 285).
XWagon with TIREFIT kit: remove the seat
cushions of the folding bench seat
(Y page 108).
XLift the cargo compartment floor up.:TIREFIT kit;Electric air pump=Jack?Towing eyeALug wrenchBFuse allocation chart/one pair of glovesCFolding wheel chockDAlignment boltXSedan with spare wheel/"Minispare"
emergency spare wheel: swing the trunk
floor upwards (Y page 285).
XWagon with spare wheel/"Minispare"
emergency spare wheel: remove the seat
cushions of the folding bench seat
(Y page 108).
XLift the cargo compartment floor up.:Vehicle tool kit tray;Stowage well=Spare wheel/"Minispare" emergency
spare wheel32Vehicles with BlueTEC only.324Where will I find...?Roadside Assistance
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The vehicle tool kit contains:
RFoldable wheel chock
RFuse allocation chart
RJack
RAlignment bolt
ROne pair of gloves
RLug wrench
RTowing eye
XVehicles with "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel33: swing the trunk floor
upwards (Y page 285).
:Towing eye;One pair of gloves=Jack?Folding wheel chockAAlignment boltBSheet for faulty wheelCElectric air pumpDLug wrenchEFuse allocation chart
"Minispare" emergency spare tire/
collapsible emergency spare tire
Removing the "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel/collapsible spare wheel
Opening the stowage well
Sedan: the emergency spare wheel can be
found in the stowage well under the trunk
floor.
XLift the trunk floor upwards (Y page 285).
Example: well insert
XRelease tabs : on the right of well
insert ;.
XReach into recess = of well insert ;,
swing the insert up and remove it.
Wagon: the emergency spare wheel is
located in the stowage well under the cargo
compartment floor.
XRemove the seat cushions of the folding
bench seat (Y page 108).
XLift the cargo compartment floor up.
Removing the emergency spare wheel:
Sedan
Example: Sedan
XRemove vehicle tool kit tray :.XTurn stowage well ; counter-clockwise
and remove it.
XRemove "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel =.33AMG vehicles only.Where will I find...?325Roadside AssistanceBA 212 USA, CA Edition B 2011; 1; 5, en-USdimargiVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-20T13:33:46+02:00 - Seite 325Z

For further information on changing a wheel
and mounting the spare wheel, see
( Y page 331).
Removing the emergency spare wheel:
Wagon
Example: emergency spare wheel
XRemove vehicle tool kit tray : by
recess ;.XRemove "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel =.
For further information on changing a wheel
and mounting the spare wheel, see
( Y page 331).
Removing the emergency spare wheel:
AMG vehicles
XReach into recess : of the tool holder and
lift it up.XRemove collapsible spare wheel ;.
For further information on changing a wheel
and mounting the spare wheel, see
( Y page 331).
Stowing a used collapsible spare wheel
Take the following steps to stow a used
collapsible spare wheel. It will otherwise not
fit in the spare wheel well. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you have this work carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
! Only place the collapsible spare wheel in
the vehicle when it is dry. Otherwise,
moisture may get into the vehicle.
XUnscrew the valve cap from the valve.XUse the back of the valve cap to unscrew
the valve insert from the valve and release
the air.
i Fully deflating the tire can take a few
minutes.
XScrew the valve insert back into the valve.XScrew the valve cap back on.XRemove the protective film from the vehicle
tool kit and wrap it around the collapsible
spare wheel.XStow the collapsible spare wheel in the
emergency spare wheel well under the
trunk.
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Your vehicle may be equipped with:
R a TIREFIT kit 34
R a "Minispare" emergency spare wheel
R a collapsible spare wheel
R the MOExtended run-flat
system( Y page 337)
i Vehicle preparation is not necessary on
vehicles with the MOExtended run-flat
system.
i Vehicles featuring the MOExtended run-
flat system are not equipped with the
TIREFIT kit at the factory. It is therefore
34 Canada only.326Flat tireRoadside Assistance
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XVersion 2: stow connector = and the air
hose in the lower section of the pump
housing.XStow the electric air pump in the
designated place in the vehicle.
Lowering the vehicle
GWarning!
Vehicles with spare wheel with collapsible tire
only: Inflate collapsible tire only after the
wheel is properly attached.
Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric
air pump before lowering the vehicle.
XTurn the crank of the jack counter-
clockwise until the vehicle is once again
standing firmly on the ground.XPlace the jack to one side.XTighten the wheel bolts evenly in a
crosswise pattern in the sequence
indicated ( : to A). The tightening torque
must be 96 lb-ft (130 Nm) .GRisk of accident
Have the tightening torque checked
immediately after a wheel is changed. The
wheels could come loose if they are not
tightened to a torque of 96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
XTurn the jack back to its initial position and
store it together with the rest of the vehicle
tool kit in the trunk/cargo compartment.XAMG vehicles and vehicles with AMG
equipment: insert the cover into the outer
sill.
Vehicles with an emergency spare wheel:
XTransport the faulty wheel in the trunk/
cargo compartment.
or
XDepending on the size of the wheel, you
may also be able to secure the faulty wheel
in the spare wheel well. In this case, you
will have to remove the stowage well casing
from the spare wheel well and stow it
securely in the trunk/cargo compartment.
Further information on stowing the
collapsible spare wheel ( Y page 326).
i When you are driving with the collapsible
spare wheel mounted, the tire pressure
loss warning system or the tire pressure
monitor cannot function reliably. Only
restart the tire pressure loss warning
system/tire pressure monitor when the
defective wheel has been replaced with a
new wheel.
Vehicles with tire pressure monitor: all
mounted wheels must be equipped with
functioning sensors and the defective
wheel should no longer be in the vehicle.
MOExtended run-flat system
The MOExtended run-flat system allows you
to drive on even if there is a complete loss of
pressure in one or more tires.
The MOExtended run-flat system may only be
used in conjunction with the activated tire
pressure loss warning system or with the
activated tire pressure monitor.
The maximum permissible distance which
can be driven in run-flat mode depends on the
cargo in the vehicle. You can drive 50 miles
(80 km) if the vehicle is partially laden and
18 miles (30 km) if it is fully laden.
The maximum permissible distance which
can be driven in run-flat mode is counted from
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Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWarning
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
R the engine will not run.
R there is a malfunction in the brake system.
R there is a malfunction in the power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
With the engine not running, there is no power
assistance for the brake and steering
systems. You will then need considerably
more force to steer and to brake and the
brake pedal travel will be longer. If necessary,
depress the brake pedal with maximum force.
Before towing away, make sure that the
steering can be moved and is not locked.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum
permissible gross vehicle weight of your
vehicle.
GWarning
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivate HOLD and DISTRONIC PLUS if the
vehicle is to be towed.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
! You may only tow the vehicle a maximum
distance of 30 miles (50 km). A towing
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not be
exceeded.
For towing distances over 30 miles
(50 km), the vehicle must loaded onto a
transporter.
! 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,
as this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! Drive slowly and smoothly when towing.
Excessive tractive power could otherwise
damage the vehicles.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! When towing vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
use the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission may shift to position P when
the driver's or front-passenger door are
opened, which could lead to damage to the
transmission.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be started by tow-starting. This
could otherwise damage the transmission.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised. This could
otherwise damage the transmission.
The automatic transmission must be in
position N when the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged.
You will otherwise be unable to:
R turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock
R shift the automatic transmission to
position N
i Deactivate the automatic locking feature
( Y page 85) before towing. You could
otherwise lock yourself out of the vehicle
when pushing or towing the vehicle.
Deactivate tow-away protection before
towing.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
XRemove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit ( Y page 324).GWarning
The exhaust tail pipe may be hot. You could
burn yourself if you touch the tail pipe. Be
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particularly careful when removing the rear
cover.
The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are at the
front and at the rear, behind the covers.
Example: Sedan
XPress the mark on cover : inwards, in the
direction of the arrow.
XTake cover : off the opening.XScrew in and tighten the towing eye
clockwise to the stop.
Removing the towing eye
XUnscrew and remove the towing eye.XAttach cover : to the bumper and press
until it engages.
XPlace the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit.
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
Only possible for vehicles without
4MATIC.
When having your vehicle towed with the rear
axle raised, observe the important safety
notes (Y page 343).
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP® could
otherwise damage the brake system.
XSwitch on the hazard warning flashers
(Y page 122).
XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove the SmartKey.
XWhen leaving the vehicle, take the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO key with you.
Towing vehicles with both axles on
the ground
When having your vehicle towed, observe the
important safety notes (Y page 343).
GWarning
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
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
The automatic transmission automatically
shifts to position P when you open the driver's
or front-passenger door or when you remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock. In order
to ensure that the automatic transmission
stays in position N when towing, do the
following:
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the SmartKey is in position 0 in the
ignition lock.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the
SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop button
(Y page 150).
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.344Towing and tow-startingRoadside Assistance
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