towing MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG 2007 R171 Owner's Manual

Contents
DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ............................... 322
Maximum tire load ....................... 324
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 324
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 325
Tire ply material ........................... 327
Tire and loading terminology ........ 327
Rotating tires ............................... 330
Winter driving .................................... 332
Winter tires .................................. 332
Snow chains................................. 333
Maintenance ...................................... 334
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 334
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator message............ 335
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 335
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display............... 335
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 336
Vehicle care ....................................... 337
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 337
Practical hints.................................. 345
What to do if … ................................... 346
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 346
Lamp in center console................. 354
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 356
Where will I find...? ............................. 382
First aid kit .................................... 382
Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack ......... 382
Spare wheel with collapsible tire .. 385
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 386
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 387
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 387
Locking the vehicle ....................... 388
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever
(automatic transmission*) ............ 389
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 390
Raising retractable hardtop
manually ....................................... 390
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 391
SmartKey ...................................... 391Replacing bulbs .................................. 393
Bulbs............................................. 393
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 396
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 397
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 399
Placing wiper arms in vertical
position......................................... 399
Removing wiper blades ................. 400
Installing wiper blades .................. 400
Flat tire............................................... 401
Preparing the vehicle .................... 401
Sealing tires with TIREFIT ............. 401
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 407
MOExtended system* ................... 414
Battery ............................................... 415
Disconnecting the battery ............ 416
Removing the battery ................... 417
Charging and reinstalling battery .. 417
Reconnecting the battery ............. 418
Jump starting...................................... 419
Towing the vehicle.............................. 421
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 422
Fuses.................................................. 425
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 425
Fuse box in engine compartment . 426

23 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Trunk
Opening the trunk100
Closing the trunk100
Spare wheel385
Vehicle tool kit382
2Rear lamps393
3Rear window defroster170
4Fuel filler flap291
Refueling291
Gasoline446
5Doors
Locking and unlocking94
Opening99
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency387
ItemPage
6Towing421
Installing towing eye bolt422
7Tires and wheels304
Checking tire inflation
pressure314
Run Flat Indicator*315
General information304
Flat tire401
8Front lamps393
9Hood
Opening294
Engine oil296,
445
Coolant300,
448
ItemPage
aWindshield wipers56
Wiper blades, replacing399
Wiper blades, cleaning340
bWindshield
Cleaning with wiper fluid58
Cleaning340
cRetractable hardtop240
Opening/closing242
Wind screen246
Luggage cover241
dExterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting46
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors*169

92 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Arming tow-away alarm
Lock your vehicle with the SmartKey.
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.The switch is located on the lower part of
the center console.
1Indicator lamp
2Tow-away alarm deactivation switch
Switch off the ignition (page 37).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Press tow-away alarm deactivation
switch2.
Indicator lamp1 in the tow-away
alarm deactivation switch comes on
briefly.
Exit your vehicle.
Lock your vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm remains disarmed un-
til you lock your vehicle again.
Canceling tow-away alarm
To cancel the alarm:
Press theŒ or‹button on the
SmartKey.
or
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
iWhen you unlock your vehicle, the tow-away
protection disarms automatically. The tow-away
alarm remains disarmed until you lock the
vehicle again.
iYou cannot disarm the tow-away alarm while
the ignition is switched on.

266 Controls in detail
Useful features
Press and hold button 1 (for longer
than 2 seconds).
A call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside
Assistance dispatcher will be initiated.
The button will flash while the call is in
progress. The message
Connecting
call
will appear in the multifunction
display and the audio system is muted.
When the connection is established, the
message
Call connected appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and lo-
cation (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established.
Describe the nature of the need for
assistance.The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to
tow your vehicle to the nearest
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.
The following is only available in the USA:

Sign and Drive services: Services such
as jump start, a few gallons of fuel or
the replacement of a flat tire with the
vehicle spare tire are obtainable.
iThe indicator lamp in the Roadside
Assistance button• remains illuminated in
red for approximately 10 seconds during the
system self-check after switching on ignition
(together with the SOS button and the
Information button¡).
See “System self-check” (
page 263) when the
indicator lamp does not come on in red or stays
on longer than approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Roadside Assistance
button• is flashing continuously and there
was no voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could not
initiate a Roadside Assistance call (e.g. the rele-
vant cellular phone network was not available).
The message
Call failed appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
Roadside Assistance calls can be terminated us-
ing the buttont on the multifunction steer-
ing wheel or the respective button for ending a
telephone call on the audio system or COMAND*
head unit.


309 Operation
Tires and wheels
1Seating capacity information on the
Tire and Loading Information placard
Steps 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
Locate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on
your vehicle’s Tire and Loading
Information placard.Step 2
Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passenger that will be riding
in your vehicle.
Step 3
Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passenger from
XXX kilograms 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 1 400 lbs and there will
be five 150 lbs passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs
(1 400-750 (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 311).
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 1 500 lbs. This is for illustration
purposes only. Make sure you are
using the actual load limit for your vehicle
stated on the vehicle’s Tire and Loading
Information placard (
page 308).

311 Operation
Tires and wheels
Certification label
Even after careful determination of the
combined weight of all occupants, cargo
and the trailer tongue load (if applicable)
(
page 311) 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
label. The certification label can be found
on the driver’s door B-pillar, see “Technical
data” (
page 430).Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR):
The total weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all cargo, and the trailer tongue
load (
page 311) 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
applicable, 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
10 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.

345 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

382 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is stored in a parcel net
behind the driver’s seat.Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack
The vehicle tool kit is stored in a storage
compartment under the trunk floor.
The following is included:

Collapsible wheel chock

Vehicle jack

Protective wrap (except SLK 55 AMG
with Performance Package)

Alignment bolt

Towing eye bolt

Wheel wrench

Spare fuses

Fuse extractor

Valve extractor

Electric air pump

TIREFIT kit (SLK 55 AMG with
Performance Package only)Removing the vehicle tool kit
Vehicles with spare wheel
Open the trunk (page 100).
Lift up trunk floor.
Remove the spare wheel (page 385).
You can now access the vehicle tool
kit.
iCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.

383 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
1Collapsible wheel chock
2Vehicle jack
3Protective wrap
4Alignment bolt
5Towing eye bolt
6Wheel wrench
7Spare fuses, fuse extractor and valve
extractor
8Electric air pumpVehicles with TIREFIT*
1TIREFIT kit
2Vehicle jack
3Collapsible wheel chock
4Towing eye bolt
5Alignment bolt
6Wheel wrench
7Spare fuses, fuse extractor and valve
extractor
8Electric air pump
Open the trunk (page 100).
Lift up trunk floor.Vehicle jack
Warning!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. Al-
ways lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.

421 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.
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 only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission*: Do
not tow-start vehicle.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with the SmartKey in the starter switch in
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.
Use the towing eyes.
Switch off the tow-away alarm (
page 91) and
the automatic central locking (
page 102).
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 brake
system

there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
as that will be necessary to adequately
control 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,
remove SmartKey from starter switch and
reinsert.
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
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised, the gear selector lever* must be in
positionN (manual transmission: gear shift lever
in neutral position) and the engine must be shut
off (SmartKey in starter switch position0or1).
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the gear selector lever* must be in
positionN (manual transmission: gear shift lever
in neutral position) 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 distances up to
30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).