Get Breakdown assistance -> Tow starting or towing away Guide for Mercedes GLC Class SUV First generation (2015-2021)

Breakdown assistance 449

R

Observe the following notes if you want to

replace the battery yourself:

Make sure that the vent hose is always con‐

nected to the original opening on the side of

the battery.

Install any existing or supplied cell caps.

Otherwise, gases or battery acid could

escape.

Mercedes-Benz recommends transporting your

vehicle in the case of a breakdown, rather than

towing it away.

For towing, use a tow rope or tow bar with both

axles on the ground. Do not use tow bar sys‐

tems.

R

Always replace a faulty battery with a battery

which meets the specific vehicle require‐

ments.

The vehicle is equipped with an AGM technol‐

ogy battery (Absorbent Glass Mat) or a lith‐

ium-ion battery. Full vehicle functionality is

only guaranteed with an AGM battery or lith‐

ium-ion battery. For safety reasons,

Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only

use batteries which have been tested and

approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.

R

Make sure that detachable parts are recon‐

nected in the same way.

NOTE Damage to the vehicle due to tow‐

ing away incorrectly

*

#

Observe the instructions and notes on

towing away.

Tow starting or towing away

Permitted towing methods

Plug-in hybrid: be sure to observe the notes in

the Supplement. Otherwise, you may fail to rec‐

ognize dangers.

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Carry over detachable parts, such as vent

hoses, elbow fitting or terminal covers from

the battery being replaced.

450 Breakdown assistance

Permitted towing methods

Vehicle equipment/towing

method

Both axles on the ground

Front axle raised

Rear axle raised

Vehicles with manual transmission

Yes, maximum 31 miles (50 km) at

31 mph (50 km/h)

Yes, maximum 31 miles (50 km) at

31 mph (50 km/h)

Yes, maximum 31 miles (50 km) at

31 mph (50 km/h)

Vehicles with automatic transmis‐

sion

Yes, maximum 31 miles (50 km) at

31 mph (50 km/h)

No

Yes, if the steering wheel is fixed in

the center position with a steering

wheel lock.

4MATIC vehicles

Yes, maximum 31 miles (50 km) at

31 mph (50 km/h)

No

#

^RVehicles with automatic transmission:

The automatic transmission cannot be shif‐

ted to position i or j.

To tow with a raised axle: towing should be

Make sure that the battery is connected and

charged.

performed by a towing company.

Observe the following points when the battery is

discharged:

Towing the vehicle with both axles on the

ground

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The engine cannot be started

#

Observe the notes on the permitted towing

methods (/ page 449).

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The electric parking brake cannot be

released or applied

Breakdown assistance 451

% Vehicles with automatic transmission: If

the automatic transmission cannot be shif‐

ted to position i, or the multifunction dis‐

play in the instrument cluster does not show

anything, have the vehicle transported away

(/ page 452). A towing vehicle with lifting

equipment is required for vehicle transporta‐

tion.

door, otherwise the automatic transmission

automatically shifts to position j.

Install the towing eye (/ page 454).

&

WARNING Risk of accident when towing

a vehicle which is too heavy

#

If the vehicle being tow-started or towed

away is heavier than the permissible gross

mass of your vehicle, the following situations

can occur:

Fasten the tow bar.

NOTE Damage due to incorrect connec‐

tion of the tow bar

*

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The towing eye may become detached.

The vehicle/trailer combination may

swerve or even overturn.

#

Only connect the tow rope or tow bar to

the towing eyes.

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NOTE Damage due to towing away at

excessively high speeds or over long dis‐

tances

*

#

If another vehicle is tow-started or

Deactivate the automatic locking mechanism

(/ page 72).

Do not activate the HOLD function.

Deactivate the tow-away alarm (/ page 92).

Deactivate Active Brake Assist

(/ page 197).

Vehicles with automatic transmission:

Shift the automatic transmission to position

i.

towed away, its weight must not exceed

the permissible gross mass of your own

vehicle.

The drivetrain could be damaged when tow‐

ing at excessively high speeds or over long

distances.

#

A towing speed of 30 mph (50 km/h)

must not be exceeded.

If a vehicle must be tow-started or towed away,

its permissible gross weight must not exceed the

permissible gross weight of the towing vehicle.

#

A towing distance of 30 miles (50 km)

must not be exceeded.

#

Information on the permissible gross mass of

the vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden‐

tification plate (/ page 494).

Release the electric parking brake.

#

Vehicles with automatic transmission: Do

not open the driver's door or front passenger

452 Breakdown assistance

on-board electrical system with power

&

WARNING Risk of accident due to limi‐

ted safety-related functions during the

towing process

NOTE Damage due to excessive tractive

*

(/ page 447).

power

#

Load the vehicle onto the transporter.

If you pull away sharply, the tractive power

may be too high and the vehicles could be

damaged.

Vehicles with automatic transmission:

Shift the automatic transmission to position

j.

Use the electric parking brake to secure the

vehicle against rolling away.

Safety-related functions are limited or no lon‐

ger available in the following situations:

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the ignition is switched off.

the brake system or power steering sys‐

tem is malfunctioning.

the energy supply or the on-board electri‐

cal system is malfunctioning.

#

Pull away slowly and smoothly.

#

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Loading the vehicle for transport

Only secure the vehicle by the wheels.

R

#

Observe the notes on towing away

(/ page 450).

Connect the tow bar to the towing eye in

order to load the vehicle.

AMG vehicles with ADS PLUS (Adaptive

Damping System PLUS)

When your vehicle is then towed away, signif‐

icantly more effort may be required to steer

and brake than is normally required.

#

&

WARNING Risk of an accident when

transporting vehicles with Adaptive

Damping System PLUS

% You can also attach the tow bar to the trailer

#

Use a tow bar.

Make sure that the steering wheel can

move freely, before towing the vehicle

away.

hitch.

#

The reduced damping forces on the vehicle

being transported can cause the vehicle/

trailer combination to start to swing.

As a result, when transporting vehicles with

the Adaptive Damping System PLUS, the

vehicle/trailer combination may start to skid.

Consequently, you could lose control of your

vehicle.

#

Vehicles with automatic transmission:

Shift the automatic transmission to position

i.

Vehicles with automatic transmission:

The automatic transmission may be locked

in position j in the event of damage to the

electrical system. To shift to i, provide the

%

Breakdown assistance 453

Towing eye storage location

4MATIC vehicles/vehicles with automatic

transmission

#

When transporting, ensure that:

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The vehicle has been loaded onto

the transporter correctly

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The vehicle is secured at all four

wheels with suitable tensioning

straps

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The maximum permissible speed of

35 mph (60 km/h) is not exceeded

when transporting

NOTE Damage to the vehicle from secur‐

ing it incorrectly

*

#

Make sure that the front and rear axles come

to rest on the same transportation vehicle.

#

After loading, the vehicle must be

secured on all four wheels. Otherwise,

the vehicle could be damaged.

NOTE Damage to the drivetrain due to

*

#

incorrect positioning

A minimum distance of 8 in (20 cm)

upwards and 4 in (10 cm) downwards

must be kept to the transport platform.

Towing eye 1 is under the cargo compartment

floor.

#

Do not position the vehicle above the

connection point of the transport vehi‐

cle.

#

Secure the vehicle on all four wheels after

loading.

454 Breakdown assistance

Installing the towing eye

towing eye. Fasten the tow bar to the trailer

hitch.

#

Vehicles with automatic transmission

must not be tow started.

% Make sure that cover 1 engages in the

#

Vehicles with automatic transmission must

not be tow-started.

bumper when you remove the towing eye.

NOTE Damage to the vehicle due to

incorrect use of the towing eye

*

Electrical fuses

Notes on electrical fuses

When a towing eye is used to recover a vehi‐

cle, the vehicle may be damaged in the proc‐

ess.

&

WARNING Risk of accident and injury

due to overloaded lines

#

Only use the towing eye to tow away or

tow start the vehicle.

If you manipulate or bridge a faulty fuse or if

you replace it with a fuse with a higher

amperage, the electric line could be overloa‐

ded.

Tow starting the vehicle (emergency engine

start)

This could result in a fire.

Vehicles with automatic transmission

#

Press the mark on cover 1 inwards and

#

Always replace faulty fuses with speci‐

remove.

fied new fuses containing the correct

amperage.

NOTE Damage to the automatic trans‐

*

#

Screw in the towing eye clockwise as far as it

will go and tighten.

mission due to tow starting

The automatic transmission may be damaged

in the process of tow starting vehicles with

automatic transmission.

Vehicles with a trailer hitch: Vehicles with a

trailer hitch do not have a rear bracket for the

Breakdown assistance -> Tow starting or towing away for Your Mercedes GLC Class SUV First generation (2015-2021)

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