towing MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 2018 Owner's Manual

Towing eye
Towing eye C is located in the left-hand stow-
age well under the cargo compartment floor. X
To remove: open the tailgate.X
Open the cargo compartment floor
( Y
page 300). X
Remove towing eye C .
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit
Removing the TIREFIT kit
The TIREFIT kit is located in the left-hand stow-
age compartment. X
To remove: open the tailgate.X
Open the cargo compartment floor
( Y
page 300). X
Push retaining clamps C on the cover down
so as to release them. X
Fold up cover in the direction of arrow D .X
Remove tire inflation compressor

In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely.
G WARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged. There
is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing the
vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar.
G WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible
gross weight of your vehicle, the: R
the towing eye could detach itself R
the vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per-
missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weight
of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate ( Y
page 376).
! When Active Brake Assist, Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC or the HOLD function is activated,
the vehicle brakes automatically in certain
situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
these systems in the following or similar sit-
uations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
! Make sure that the electric parking brake is
released. If the electric parking brake is faulty,
visit a qualified specialist workshop.
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes, or the trailer tow hitch, if availa-
ble. You could otherwise damage the vehicle.
! Do not use the trailer tow hitch for recovery
or towing. Do not use the towing eye for
recovery. this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, have the vehicle recovered using a
crane. ! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high, the
vehicles could be damaged.
! Shift the automatic transmission to position
\\ and do not open the driver's or front pas-
senger's door during towing. The automatic
transmission may otherwise shift to position
] , which could damage the transmission.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment. This
could damage the vehicle.
! The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of 30 mph
(50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles (50km), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
It is better to have the vehicle transported than
to have it towed awa y.
If the vehicle ha s suffered transmission damage,
have it transported on a transporter or trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in position
\\ when the vehicle is being towed. If the auto-
matic transmission cannot be shifted to position
\\ , have the vehicle transported on a trans-
porter or trailer.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you: R
cannot turn the SmartKey to position H in
the ignition lock R
cannot release the electric parking brake R
cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position \\
Disarm the automatic locking feature before the
vehicle is towed ( Y
page 85). You could other-
wise be locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
G WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be very hot. There is
a risk of burns when removing the rear cover.
Do not touch the exhaust pipe. Take particular
care when removing the rear cover.344
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

Mercedes-AMG vehicles
All other vehicles
The brackets for the screw-in towing eye are
located in the bumpers. They are at the rear and
at the front, under covers C .X
Remove the towing eye from the retainer
( Y
page 333). X
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: use a suitable
object, e.g. a screwdriver, to pry off cover C
on the front bumper from underneath. Take
the cover from the opening, but do not
remove it.
Press the mark on cover C on the rear
bumper inward and remove. X
All other vehicles: press the mark on
cover C inward and remove. X
Screw in the towing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten it.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch do not have a
bracket for the screw-in towing eye at the back.
Connect the towbar to the trailer tow hitch
( Y
page 216).
Removing the towing eye X
Unscrew and remove the towing eye. X
Attach cover C to the bumper and press until
it engages.
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground The automatic transmission automatically shifts
to position ] when you open the driver's or
front-passenger door or when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. It is essential to
observe the following steps to ensure that the
automatic transmission remains in position \\
during towing. X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary. X
Turn the SmartKey to position H in the igni-
tion lock. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Shift the automatic transmission to position
\\ . X
Leave the SmartKey in position H in the igni-
tion lock. X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Switch on the hazard warning lamps
( Y
page 114).
In order to signal a change of direction when
towing the vehicle with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination switch
as usual. In this case, only the indicator lamps
for the direction of travel flash. After resetting
the combination switch, the hazard warning
lamp starts flashing again.Towing and tow-starting 345
Breakdown assistance Z

Transporting the vehicle
Vehicles with ADS PLUS (Adaptive
Damping System PLUS)
G WARNING
The weaker damping forces of the vehicle to
be transported can cause the vehicle/trailer
combination to swing.
As a result, when transporting vehicles with
Adaptive Damping System PLUS, the vehicle/
trailer combination may start to skid. Conse-
quently, you could lose control of the vehicle.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
When transporting, make sure that: R
the vehicle is has been loaded onto the
transporter correctly R
the vehicle is secured at all four wheels with
suitable tensioning straps R
you do not exceed the maximum permissi-
ble speed of 35 mph (60 km/h)
! After loading, the vehicle must be secured at
all four wheels. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
A minimum distance of 8 in (20 cm) up and
4 in (10 cm) down must be maintained to the
transport platform. X
Secure all four wheels after loading the vehi-
cle.
General notes
! When the vehicle is loaded for transport, the
front and rear axles must be stationary and on
the same transportation vehicle. Positioning
over the connection point of the transport vehicle is not permitted. The drive train may
otherwise be damaged.
! You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
The towing eye or trailer tow hitch can be used
to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or transporter if
you wish to transport it. X
Turn the SmartKey to position H in the igni-
tion lock. X
Shift the automatic transmission to position
\\ .
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded: X
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake. X
Shift the automatic transmission to position
] . X
Turn the SmartKey to position Z in the igni-
tion lock and remove it. X
Secure the vehicle.
Notes on 4MATIC vehicles
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised, as
doing so will damage the transmission.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed away
with both axles on the ground or be loaded up
and transported.
If the vehicle's transmission, front, or rear axle is
damaged, have the vehicle transported on a
truck or trailer.
In the event of damage to the electrical sys-
tem: if the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in position P . To shift
the automatic transmission to position N , you
must provide power to the vehicle's electrical
system in the same way as when jump-starting
( Y
page 341).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter or
trailer.346
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance