Important safety notes
WARNING
When towing a trailer, incorrect equipment
and driving style could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle.
Towing incorrectly or not observing this
Operator's Manual could lead to damage to
the vehicle and/or serious injuries. Observe
the following guidelines to ensure safe trailer
towing.
Contact a Mercedes-Benz Center if you need
further explanation of the information
contained in this Operator's Manual.
WARNING
Using a ball coupling other than the one
delivered with the vehicle may place too much
strain on the trailer tow hitch. This applies
especially if the ball coupling in question is
longer or angled differently. As a result, the
vehicle may be damaged and the trailer may
come loose while driving. Handling
characteristics may be impaired and the rear
axle may be overloaded. This could lead to an
accident with serious or even fatal injuries.
Therefore, please observe the following:
- only install the ball coupling delivered with
the vehicle.
- make sure that the ball coupling is correctly
installed and secured before driving.
- do not make any modifications to the ball
coupling or the trailer tow hitch.
WARNING
When backing up the vehicle towards the
trailer, make sure there is nobody between
the trailer and the vehicle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer could become
detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
- the permissible trailer drawbar noseweight
- the permissible trailer load
- the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
- the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
You will find the applicable permissible
values, which must not be exceeded, in the
vehicle documents.
You will find the values approved by the
manufacturer on the vehicle identification
plates and those for the towing vehicle in the
"Technical data" section.
WARNING
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
with when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
- is heavier
- is restricted in its acceleration and gradient-climbing capability
- has an increased braking distance
- is affected more by strong crosswinds
- demands more sensitive steering
- has a larger turning circle
As a result, the handling characteristics may
be impaired and you may lose control of the
vehicle. This could lead to an accident with
serious or even fatal injuries.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your
speed to the current road and weather
conditions. Do not exceed the maximum
permissible speed for your vehicle/trailer
combination.
WARNING
Never depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never cause
the brakes to rub by applying constant slight
pedal pressure. This causes the brake system
to overheat, increases the braking distance
and can lead to the brakes failing completely.
WARNING
Under no circumstances try to straighten the
vehicle/trailer combination by increasing the
speed.
See also:
2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review
When a car costs as much as a house, as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class does, it
makes you take a step back. Can a car this expensive really be worth it? After
spending a week with an S550, I can tell y ...
Other status indicators of the
navigation system
• : you have reached the
destination or
an intermediate destination.
• New route......: COMAND is calculating
the new route.
• Direction of Dest. Off map or
Direction of Dest. Off mapped ro ...
Rear fog lamp
To switch on the rear fog lamp: turn the
SmartKey in the ignition lock to position 2
or start the engine.
Turn the light switch to or
(vehicles with front fog lamps), or turn the
light s ...