Mercedes-Benz R-Class Owner's Manual page 335

Practical advice
Towing and tow-starting
Towing the vehicle
!
You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
With towing distances over 50 km, the
entire vehicle needs to be lifted up and
transported.
!
Vehicles with 4MATIC* must not be
towed with the front or rear axle raised.
!
If you have the vehicle towed with the
front or rear axle raised, the ignition must
be switched off (key in position 0 or 1 in the
ignition lock). Intervention by ESP
otherwise destroy the braking system on
the front or rear axle.
Turn the key to position 2 (
X
Y
the ignition lock.
i
On vehicles with KEYLESS GO*: use the
key instead of the KEYLESS GO* button.
Move the DIRECT SELECT lever to the N
X
position.
332
Removing the towing eye
Take the wheel wrench from the vehicle
X
tool kit ( page 252).
Y
Insert the wheel wrench handle into the
X
towing eye and turn it anti-clockwise.
Unscrew the towing eye.
X
Replace the cover and press it until it
X
engages.
Return the towing eye and the wheel
X
wrench to the vehicle tool kit.
Transporting the vehicle
®
could
The towing eyes or trailer coupling* can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or trans-
porter if you wish to transport it.
page 76) in
!
Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components. The
vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
Recovering a vehicle that has become
stuck
Take great care when recovering a vehicle
whose drive wheels have become embedded
in loose earth or mud, particularly if the vehi-
cle is laden.
When recovering the vehicle do not use jerky
movements and do not pull it at an angle. The
chassis could otherwise be damaged.
Never attempt to recover a vehicle with a
trailer attached.
Pull out the vehicle backwards, if possible
using the tracks it made when it became
stuck.
Towing in the event of the following
malfunctions
In the event of damage to the transfer
case
Have the propeller shafts between the axles
and the transfer case removed.
Have the vehicle towed with the front axle
raised.
* optional