2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS snow chains

2 Contents
Power windows ............................... 109
Interior lighting ..............................110
Night security illumination ..........110
Sun visors with Vanity Mirror ......111
Interior .............................................111
Cup holder and glove box ............. 112
Storage compartments ...................113
Ashtrays ...........................................114
Coin Holder ......................................114
Lighter ..............................................115
Parcel net in
passenger footwell .....................116
Shelf behind roll bars .....................116
Cellular telephone ..........................116
Garage door opener ........................117
Retractable hardtop ....................... 120
Wind screen .................................... 125
Luggage cover ................................. 126
DrivingControl and operation
of radio transmitters ................ 128
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 129
Maintenance .................................. 129
Tele Aid ............................................130
Catalytic converter .........................138
Emission control .............................139
Steering lock .................................. 140
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 142
Manual transmission .................... 143
Automatic transmission ............... 144
Parking brake .................................153
Driving instructions .......................154
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel ........154
Drinking and driving .................154
Pedals ...........................................154Power assistance ........................ 155
Brakes .......................................... 155
Driving off ................................... 156
Parking ........................................ 156
Tires ............................................. 157
Snow chains ................................ 160
Winter driving instructions ...... 160
Block heater ................................ 162
Deep water .................................. 162
Passenger compartment ........... 162
Traveling abroad ........................ 162
Cruise control ................................. 163
Brake assist system (BAS) ............ 166
Antilock brake system (ABS) ....... 168
Electronic stability
program (ESP) ........................... 170
What you should know
at the gas station ....................... 174
Check regularly and
before a long trip ...................... 176

127 Contents - Driving
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ............................... 128
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 129
Maintenance ................................... 129
Tele Aid ........................................... 130
Catalytic converter ........................ 138
Emission control ............................ 139
Steering lock ................................... 140
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 142
Manual transmission .................... 143Automatic transmission ............... 144
Parking brake .................................153
Driving instructions .......................154
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel ........154
Drinking and driving .................154
Pedals ...........................................154
Power assistance .........................155
Brakes ...........................................155
Driving off ....................................156
Parking .........................................156
Tires ..............................................157
Snow chains ................................160
Winter driving
instructions .................................160Block heater ................................ 162
Deep water .................................. 162
Passenger compartment ........... 162
Traveling abroad ........................ 162
Cruise control ................................. 163
Brake assist system
(BAS) ........................................... 166
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ........................................... 168
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 170
What you should know
at the gas station ....................... 174
Check regularly and
before a long trip ...................... 176

160 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
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 172.
Important!
Use of snow chains is not permissible with tire size
225 / 50 R 16, with th e col lapsib le spa re tire, or with tire
size 245 / 40 ZR 17 (Sport Package).Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy roads is to
drive sensibly and to avoid abrupt acceleration, braking
and steering maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding, move
selector lever to position “N” or in case of manual
transmission declutch. Try to keep the vehicle under
control by corrective steering action.
Road salts and chemicals can adversely affect braking
efficiency. Increased pedal force may become necessary
to produce the normal brake effect. We therefore
recommend depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn roads. This can
bring road salt impaired braking efficiency back to
normal. A prerequisite is, however, that this be done
without endangering other drivers on the road.
If t he veh icle is pa rked af te r b eing driven on sal t trea ted
road s, th e braking ef f ic iency should be tested as soon a s
possible after driving is resumed while observing the
safety rules in the previous paragraph.

161 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
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 252.
•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 195.
•Test battery: Battery capacity drops with decreasing
ambient temperature. A well charged battery helps
to ensure t ha t t he engine c an be sta rted, even at l ow
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.
Wa r n i n g !
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make sure
that snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around the vehicle with engine running.
Otherwise, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open a
window slightly on the side of the vehicle not
facing the wind.

171 Driving systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
Th e m alf unction indicator l amp for t he 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
continuously with the engine running, a malfunction
has been detected in either system. Only partial engine
output will be available.
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system functions in
the usual manner, but without BAS.
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 size.
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.

249 Technical data
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Rims – Tires
2 Must not be used with snow chains.
3 Also permissible: 225 / 45 R 17 91 W
4 Also permissible: 245 / 40 R 17 91 W
2
Model SLK 230 KOMPRESSOR
Except Sport PackageSLK 320
Except Sport PackageSLK 230 KOMPRESSOR /
SLK 320
Sport Package
Rims and summer tires
Rims front axle
light alloy rims
Wheel offset7 J x 16 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)7 J x 16 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)7
1/2 J x 17 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)
Rims rear axle
light alloy rims
Wheel offset8 J x 16 H 2
1.18 in (30 mm)8 J x 16 H 2
1.18 in (30 mm)8
1/2 J x 17 H 2
1.18 in (30 mm)
Radial-ply tires
front axle
rear axle205 / 55 R 16 91 V
225 / 50 R 16 92 V
2
205 / 55 R 16 91 W
225 / 50 R 16 92 W
2
225 / 45 ZR 17
3
245 / 40 ZR 17
2, 4

250 Technical data
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
2 Must not be used with snow chains.Model SLK 230 KOMPRESSOR SLK 320
Rims and winter tires
Rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset7 J x 16 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)7 J x 16 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)
Radial-ply tires 205 / 55 R 16 91 H M+S 205 / 55 R 16 91 H M+S
Spare wheel
Rim (light alloy)
Wheel offset4
1/2 B x 15 H 2
0.47 in (12 mm)4
1/2 B x 16 H 2
0.47 in (12 mm)
Collapsible tire 165-15 89 P
2
165 / 70-16 92 P
2

266 Index
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
RRadio and telephone ...................................................... 128
Radio transmitters ......................................................... 128
Rear view mirrors ............................................................ 64
Exterior ......................................................................... 65
Inside ............................................................................ 64
Rear window defroster .................................................... 88
Remote control ................................................................. 22
Battery replacement .................................................224
Synchronizing ...........................................................225
Replacing bulbs .............................................................. 218
Replacing wiper blade insert ....................................... 231
Reporting safety defects ................................................. 13
Residual Engine Heat Utilization (REST) ..................... 89
Retractable hardtop ....................................................... 120
Roadside assistance ........................................................... 8
Roadside assistance call
See Tele Aid ............................................................... 130
SSafety guidelines for the seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor and airbag ................................59
Seat belts ........................................................................... 44
Fastening ......................................................................46
Seat belt nonusage warning system .........................45
Unfastening .................................................................. 48
Warning lamp ............................................................ 180
Seat belts and integrated restraint system .................. 44
Seats ...................................................................................38
Power seats .................................................................. 38
Seat heater ...................................................................42
Service indicator
See Flexible service system (FSS) ............................ 75
Setting the audio volume ................................................95
Shelf behind roll bars .................................................... 116
Side marker lamp .......................................................... 223
Snow chains .................................................................... 160
SOS-call
See Tele Aid ............................................................... 130
Spare parts service ....................................................... 242
Spare wheel ........................................................... 196, 200
Special settings (Climate control) ................................. 87