2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS technical data

47 Seats
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should adjust
the seat height for proper vision as well as fore/aft
placement and backrest angle to insure adequate
control, reach, operation, and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for proper height.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head
approximately at ear level. See also airbag section for
proper seat positioning on page 60.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure
adequate control, reach, operation, and comfort.
Both the inside and outside rear view mirrors should be
adjusted for adequate rearward vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be
seated in a properly secured restraint system that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All seat, head restraint, rear view mirror, and steering
wheel adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion.
BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
this vehicle, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, which operates
with the BabySmart
TM system installed in the
vehicle to deactivate the passenger side front
airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal
injury will result.Infants and small children must be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system, which
is properly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt,
fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is
not properly secured in the child restraint.

48 Seats
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Backrest
Folding forward:
Lift lever and fold forwards.
Folding back:
Fold backrest back until it audibly locks in place.Note:
If the backrest and seat belt warning lamp< does
not go out, but is instead lit continuously, then a
backrest is not engaged in its lock.
Always provide sufficient room behind the backrest and
fold the backrest all the way back until it can be heard
locking in place.
The warning lamp goes out as soon as both backrests
are locked in place.
If both backrests are locked in place and the warning
lamp does not go out, have the system checked at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
P91.10-0461-26
Wa r n i n g
The seat belts provide protection only with the
backrest locked in place and, therefore, it must be
locked in place with the vehicle in motion. Do not
drive the vehicle when the backrest is not locked in
place.

49 Seats
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Multicontour seats (optional)
Switch is located on side of seat.
We recommend to adjust the multicontour seat in the
following order:
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest bottom
3Backrest center
4Side bolster adjustmentSome m od els may be eq uipped with m ulticontour sea ts.
These seats have movable seat cushions, and inflatable
air cushions bu il t into th e backrest to provide ad ditional
lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion movement and amount of backrest
cushion height and curvature can be continuously
varied with regulators (1, 2 and 3) after turning the key
in steering lock to position 2.
The side bolsters of the backrest can be adjusted with
rocker switch (4):
• press down forward end -
increase side support,
• press down rearward end -
decrease side support.
If the engine is turned off, the last cushion setting is
retained in memory, and automatically adjusts the
cushion to this setting when the engine is restarted.
P91.25-0298-26
1
2
3
4

50 Seats
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat heater (SL 500 optional)
The seat heater switches are located on the center
console.
The seat heaters can be switched on with the key in
steering lock positions 1 or 2.Press switch to turn on seat heater:
1Normal seat heating mode. One indicator lamp in
the switch lights up.
2Rapid seat heating mode. Both indicator lamps in
the switch light up. After approximately 5 minutes
in the rapid seat heating mode, the seat heater
automa tica lly sw itches to norma l operation and only
one indicator lamp will stay on.
Turning off seat heater:
If one indicator lamp is on, press upper half of switch.
If both indicator lamps are one, press lower half of
switch.
If left on, the seat heater automatically turns off after
approximately 30 minutes of operation.
P91.30-0270-26
12

51 Seats
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Note:
When in operation, the seat heater consumes a large
amount of electrical power. It is not advisable to use the
seat heater longer than necessary.
The seat heaters may automatically switch off if too
many power consumers are switched on at the same
time, or if the battery charge is low. When this occurs,
the indicator lamp in the switch will blink (both
indicator lamps blink during rapid seat heating mode).
The seat heaters will switch on again automatically as
soon as sufficient voltage is available.
If the blinking of the indicator lamps is distracting to
you, the seat heaters can be switched off.

52 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with lap-shoulder seat belts,
emergency tensioning retractors for the seat belts, as
well as airbags and knee bolsters.
Seat belts
Important!
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require
seat belt use.
All states and provinces require use of child restraints
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in
vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-
shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passenger we strongly
recommend their use.
Note:
For cleaning and care of the seat belts, see page 265.
Wa r n i n g !
The seat belts provide protection only with the
backrest locked in place. If the seat belt warning
lamp< does not go out, but is instead lit
continuously, then a backrest is not engaged in its
lock.Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest
reclined. Sitting in an excessi vely reclined position
can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat
belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt
would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That
could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The
backrest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in an upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.

53 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Seat belt nonusage warning system
With the key in steering lock position 2, a warning
sounds for a short time if the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened.
BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
Wa r n i n g !
Failure to wear and properly fasten and position
your seat belt greatly increases your risk of
injuries and their likely severity in an accident.
You and your passenger should always wear seat
belts.If you are ever in an accident, your injuries can be
considerably more severe without your seat belt
properly buckled. Without your seat belt buckled,
you are much more likely to hit the interior of the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed.In th e sam e c rash, th e possibility of injury or death
is lessened if you are wearing your seat belt.Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there
are seat belts available. Be sure everyone riding in
the vehicle is correctly restrained with a separate
seat belt.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
this vehicle, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, which operates
with the BabySmart
TM system installed in the
vehicle to deactivate the passenger side front
airbag wh en it is properly installed. Otherwise they
will be struck by the airbag when it inflates in a
crash. If this happens, serious or fatal injury can
result.
Infants and small children must be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system, which
is properly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt,
fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is
not properly secured in the child restraint.

54 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Fastening of seat belts1Latch plate
2Buckle
3Release button
Pull belt with latch plate (1) across shoulder and lap.
Push latch plate (1) into buckle (2) until it clicks.
To help avoid severe or fatal injuries, the lap belt should
be positioned as low as possible on your hips and not
across the abdomen.
Do not twist the belt. A twisted seat belt may cause
injury.
Wa r n i n g !
Always fasten your seat belt before driving off.
Always make sure your passenger is properly
restrained.