Towing and starting the engine by towing

Towing Eye

Always carry the removable towing eye with you. The eye is screwed into the threaded receptacles provided at the front and rear of the vehicle.

The towing eye is located in the tool kit under the floor cover in the luggage compartment.

Use only the original towing eye when towing. Screw it into the receptacle until it stops. Use the towing eye only for towing on paved roads. The towing eye is not designed for lateral loads (for example, the vehicle must not be lifted by the towing eye). Otherwise, the towing eye or the vehicle body may be damaged.◄

Access to the Threaded Socket

Left and right covers in the bumper: press the arrow.

Front

Rear

Towing the Vehicle

Do not forget to switch on the ignition, see

page 60, otherwise the low beam headlamps, tail lamps, turn signals and windshield wipers will not work. With the engine off, the power assist systems do not work. Therefore, greater force is required for braking and steering. The Active Steering system does not work, so turn the steering wheel through a larger angle than usual.◄

Switch on the hazard warning lights (observing the regulations of the country of travel). If the electrical system fails, make the vehicle being towed conspicuous, for example with a warning sign or a warning triangle on the rear window.

Before towing, the transmission lock must be released manually, otherwise damage to the transmission may occur.◄

To avoid damage to the automatic transmission, do not exceed the maximum towing speed and distance (70 km/h and 150 km respectively).◄

Towing Methods

To avoid damage, do not lift the vehicle by the towing eye, body parts or chassis components.◄

In some countries, towing with a rope or rigid tow bar is prohibited. Observe the regulations in force in the country of travel.

Towing with a Rigid Tow Bar

The towing vehicle must always be heavier than the vehicle being towed, otherwise it will lose steering control.◄

The towing eyes of both vehicles must be located on the same side.

If a diagonal arrangement of the towing eyes is unavoidable, observe the following:

► Freedom of movement when negotiating turns is limited
► When the rigid tow bar is positioned diagonally, lateral forces occur.

Attach the rigid tow bar only to the tow eye. Do not tow the vehicle by any other components.◄

Towing with a tow rope

Make sure the tow rope is taut before pulling away.

For towing, use nylon tow ropes, which compensate for excessive jerking. Attach the tow ropes only to the tow eye. Do not tow the vehicle by any other components.◄

Transporting the vehicle

To avoid wheel lock-up and damage to the transfer case, do not tow the vehicle with the front or rear axle raised.◄

Transport the vehicle on a flatbed tow truck.

Starting the Engine by Towing

Starting the engine by towing is not permitted.

If necessary, start the engine using an external power source, see

page 261.

Contact an authorized service center to resolve starting problems.