2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 snow chains

3 ContentsStorage compartment
(eyeglasses compartment)
in the dashboard ....................... 124
Interior central
locking system ............................ 125
Integration with vehicle
central locking system .............. 126
Separate locking of storage
compartments ............................. 126
Armrest ........................................... 127
Console storage
compartments ............................ 127
Cup holder ...................................... 128
Parcel net in
passenger footwell .................... 128
Door pockets ................................... 129
Rear storage compartment ........... 129
Ashtray with lighter ...................... 130
Lighter ............................................. 131
Telephone, general ........................ 132
Garage door opener ....................... 133
Hardtop or panorama roof ............ 137
Removing hardtop ...................... 137
Attaching hardtop ...................... 140Soft top ............................................ 143
Lowering soft top ....................... 144
Raising soft top .......................... 145
Wind screen ................................... 148
Antenna ...........................................151
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ................................153
Radio, telephone and
two-way radio ..............................153
Telep ho n es an d
two-way radio ..............................153
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ..................................154
Maintenance ...................................154
Tele Aid ............................................155
Catalytic converter .........................163
Emission control .............................164
Steering lock ...................................165
Starting and turning off
the engine ...................................167
Before starting .............................167
Starting .........................................167Turning off .................................. 167
Automatic transmission ............... 168
Driving ......................................... 168
Accelerator Position ................... 169
Selector lever positions ............. 169
Maneuvering ............................... 172
Stopping ....................................... 172
Program mode
selector switch ............................ 173
Emergency Operation ................ 174
Parking brake ................................. 175
Driving instructions ...................... 176
Drive sensibly - Save fuel .......... 176
Drinking and driving ................. 176
Pedals ........................................... 176
Power assistance ........................ 177
Brakes .......................................... 177
Driving off ................................... 178
Parking ........................................ 178
Tires ............................................. 179
Aquaplaning ............................... 180
Tire traction ................................ 180
Tire speed rating ........................ 181
Snow chains ................................ 181

152 Contents – Driving
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ............................... 153
Radio, telephone and
two-way radio .............................. 153
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 154
Maintenance ................................... 154
Tele Aid ........................................... 155
Catalytic converter ........................ 163
Emission control ............................ 164
Steering lock ................................... 165
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 167
Before starting ............................ 167
Starting ........................................ 167
Turning off .................................. 167
Automatic transmission ............... 168
Driving ......................................... 168
Accelerator Position ................... 169
Selector lever positions ............. 169
Maneuvering ............................... 172
Stopping ....................................... 172Program mode
selector switch ........................... 173
Emergency Operation ................174
Parking brake ................................ 175
Driving instructions ....................... 176
Drive sensibly - Save fuel .......... 176
Drinking and driving ................. 176
Pedals ........................................... 176
Power assistance ........................ 177
Brakes .......................................... 177
Driving off ................................... 178
Parking ........................................ 178
Tires ............................................. 179
Aquaplaning ................................180
Tire traction .................................180
Tire speed rating ........................181
Snow chains ................................ 181
Ve h i c l e s w i t h s p o r t
package ........................................181
Winter driving
instructions .................................182
Winter driving .............................183
Block heater .................................183
Deep water ...................................184Traveling abroad ........................ 184
Cruise control ................................. 185
Brake assist system (BAS) ............ 188
Antilock brake system (ABS) ....... 190
ABS control ................................. 191
Electronic Stability Program
(ESP) ........................................... 192
Synchronizing ESP .................... 193
ESP Control Switch .................... 194
Level control system ...................... 196
Level control switch
positions ...................................... 196
Normal Level ............................... 197
Wheel Change Switch ............... 198
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS) ........................................... 199
Adaptive damping system
adjustment .................................. 199
What you should know at the gas
station .........................................200
Fuel supply ..................................200
Fuel ...............................................200
Check regularly and before
a long trip ...................................202

181 Driving insturctions
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tire speed rating
Vehicles without Sport Package:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “W”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 168 mph (270 km/h).
Vehicles with Sport Package:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “V”-rated tires,
which are permissible for speeds over 149 mph
(240 km/h).
Despite the tire rating, local speed limits should be
obeyed. Use prudent driving speeds appropriate to
prevailing conditions.Snow chains
Use only snow chains that are tested and recommended
by Mercedes-Benz. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to advise you on this subject.
Chains should only be used on the rear wheels. Follow
the manufacturer’s mounting instructions.
Snow chains should only be driven on snow covered
roads at speeds not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
Remove chains as soon as possible when driving on
roads without snow.
When driving with snow chains, press the ESP control
switch to OFF, see page 194.
Vehicles with Sport Package
Use of snow chains is not permissible with tire sizes
245/40 ZR 18 or 275/35 ZR 18.
Wa r n i n g !
Even when permitted by law, never operate a
vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum speed
rating of the tires.Exceeding the maximum speed for which tires are
rated can lead to sudden tire failure causing loss of
vehicle control and resulting in personal injury
and possible death.

183 Driving insturctions
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Winter driving
Have your vehicle winterized at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center before the onset of winter.
• Change the engine oil if the engine contains an oil
which is not approved for winter operation. For
viscosity (SAE/CCMC class) and filling quantity,
see page 276.
• Check engine coolant anticorrosion/antifreeze
concentration.
• Additive for the windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system: Add MB Concentrate “S” to a
premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze
which is formulated for below freezing
temperatures, see page 88.
• Test battery: Battery capacity drops with decreasing
ambient temperature. A well charged battery helps
to ensure that the engine can be started, even at low
ambient temperatures.
• Tires: We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires on
all four wheels for the winter season. Observe
permissible maximum speed for M+S rated
radial-ply tires and the legal speed limit.Note:
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
antilock brake system (ABS) or electronic stability
program (ESP) can only be achieved with M+S rated
radial-ply tires and/or snow chains recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Snow chains maximize performance.
Block heater (for Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block heater.
The electrical cable may be installed at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

193 Driving systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
The malfunction indicator lamp for the ESP is combined
with that of the BAS.
The yellow BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster and the yellow ESP warning
lampv in the speedometer dial come on with the
key in steering lock position 2. They should go out with
the engine running.
If the BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp comes on
permanently with the engine running, a malfunction
has been detected in either system. Pressing the
a ccelera tor peda l will require greater e ffort. Only partia l
engine output will be available.
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system functions in
the usual manner, but without BAS.
If the BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp come s on,
have the BAS or ESP checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
With the ABS malfunctioning, the ESP is also switched
off.Driving the vehicle with varied size tires will cause the
wheels to rotate at different speeds, therefore the ESP
may activate (yellow ESP warning lamp in speedometer
dial comes on). For this reason, all wheels, including the
spare wheel, must have the same tire outside diameter.
When testing the parking brake on a brake test
dynamometer, the engine must be shut off. Otherwise,
the ESP will immediately be engaged and will apply the
rear wheel brakes.
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
ESP is only achieved with Mercedes-Benz recommended
M+S rated radial-ply tires and/or snow chains.
Synchronizing ESP
If the power supply was interrupted (battery
disconnected or empty), the BAS/ESP malfunction
indicator lamp may be illuminated with the engine
running.
Turn steering wheel completely to the left and then to
the right. The BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp
should go out.

194 Driving systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
ESP control switch
ESP control switch located in center console.
To improve the vehicle‘s traction when driving with
snow chains, or starting off in deep snow, sand or gravel,
switch off ESP by pressing the upper half of the ESP
switch. The ESP warning lampv located in the
speedometer dial, is continuously illuminated.With the ESP system switched off, the engine torque
reduction feature is cancelled. Therefore, the enhanced
vehicle stability offered by ESP is unavailable.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.
A portion of the ESP system remains active, even with
the switch in the OFF position.
If one drive wheel loses traction and begins to spin, the
brake is applied until the wheel regains sufficient
traction. The traction control engages at vehicle speeds
up to approxim ately 24 mph (40 km /h ), a nd sw itches of f
at 50 mph (80 km/h).
Note:
Avoid spinning of one drive wheel. This may cause
serious damage to the drive train which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Wa r n i n g !
When the ESP warning lamp is illuminated
continuously, the ESP is switched off. Adapt you r speed and dri ving to th e prevailing road
conditions.

273 Technical data
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Rims – Tires
2 Must only be used with special MB authorized snow chains.Rims and summer tires
(except Sport Package)
Rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset:8
1/4 J x 17 H 2
1.33 in (34 mm)
All season tires:
Radial-ply tires 245/45 R17 95 W
Winter tires:
Radial-ply tires 245/45 R 17 45 H M+S
2
Spare wheel
Rim (light alloy)
Wheel offset:8
1/4 J x 17 H 2
1.33 in (34 mm)
All season tires:
Radial-ply tires 245/45 R 17 95 W
2

274 Technical data
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
2 Must only be used with special MB authorized snow chains.
3 Must not be used with snow chains.Rims and summer tires
(Sport package)
Model SL 500 SL 600
Rims front axle
AMG light alloy rims
Wheel offset:8
1/2 J x 18 H 2
1.0 in (25 mm)8
1/2 J x 18 H 2
1.0 in (25 mm)
Rims rear axle
AMG light alloy rims
Wheel offset:9
1/2 J x 18 H 2
0.9 in (23 mm)10 J x 18 H 2
1.0 in (25 mm)
Radial-ply tires
front axle
rear axle245/40 ZR 18
275/35 ZR 18
3
245/40 ZR 18
275/35 ZR 18
3
Spare wheel
Rim (light alloy)
Wheel offset:8
1/4 J x 17 H 2
1.33 in (34 mm)8
1/4 J x 17 H 2
1.33 in (34 mm)
All season tire:
Radial-ply tire 245/45 R 17 95W
2
245/45 R 17 95W
2