2011 Mercedes E-Class Owner's Manual - Page 300

298 Towing and tow-starting Towing and tow-starting Important safety notes G Warning If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid towing bar if: Rthe engine will not run. Rthere is a malfunction in the brake system. Rthere 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. ! 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. ! On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop button. Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition lock and shift the automatic transmission to N. Then, turn the SmartKey back to 0 and leave it in the ignition lock. ! Vehicles with automatic transmission must not be started by tow-starting. This could otherwise damage the transmission. The automatic transmission must be in position N when the vehicle is being towed. Make sure that the battery is connected and charged. You will otherwise not be able to: Rturn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition lock. Rshift the automatic transmission to position N. Vehicles with automatic transmission: manually release the selector lever lock in position P (Y page 162). i Switch off the automatic locking feature before the vehicle is towed (Y page 81). Otherwise, you could lock yourself out of the vehicle when pushing or towing the vehicle. Installing/removing the towing eye Installing the towing eye X Roadside Assistance G Warning 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. Remove the towing eye from the vehicle tool kit (Y page 287). G Warning The exhaust tail pipe may be hot. You could burn yourself if you touch the tail pipe. Be particularly careful when removing the rear cover.