2002 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 Hardtop

3 ContentsCup 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 ...................... 140
Soft top ............................................ 143
Lowering soft top ........................ 144
Raising soft top ........................... 145
Wind screen .................................... 148
Antenna ........................................... 151
Driving Control and operation of radio
transmitters ............................... 154
Radio and telephone .................. 154
Telep ho n es an d
two-way radio .............................. 154The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ..................................155
Maintenance ...................................155
Tele Aid ............................................156
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 ...................................... 172
Program mode
selector switch ........................... 173
Emergency Operation ................174
Parking brake ................................ 175
Driving instructions ....................... 176
Drive sensibly - Save fuel .......... 176Drinking 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
Vehicles with
sport package .............................. 181
Deep water .................................. 182
Winter driving
instructions ................................. 182
Winter driving ............................ 183
Block heater ................................ 183
Traveling abroad ........................ 183
Cruise control ................................. 184
Brake assist system
(BAS) ........................................... 188
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ........................................... 190

24 Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Center console31Ashtray with lighter (to open press bottom of cover),
see page 130
32Mirror adjustment switch, see page 72
33Soft/hardtop operation switch, see page 143
34Seat heater switch, see page 50
35Power window switch, see page 116

27 Contents - Operation
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Night security illumination ........ 85
Combination switch ........................ 86
Blocked windshield wiper .......... 88
Windshield wiper smears ........... 88
Windshield and
headlamp washer fluid
mixing ratio .................................. 88
Hazard warning flasher switch ..... 89
Automatic climate control .............. 90
Display and controls .................... 92
Basic setting -
automatic mode ............................ 93
Economy ........................................ 93
Special settings ............................ 94
Audio and telephone, operation .... 98
Power windows ................................116
Express opening of
door windows ...............................117
Synchronizing
power windows ............................117
Roll bar .............................................118Interior lighting ............................. 120
Interior lamps ............................. 120
Reading lamps ............................ 120
Entrance lamps in footwells,
exit lamps in doors .................... 120
Sunshade, manual ..........................121
Power sunshade ............................. 122
Sun visors ....................................... 123
Illuminated vanity mirror ............ 123
Interior ............................................ 124
Storage 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 ... 127Cup 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 ...................... 140
Soft top ............................................ 143
Lowering soft top ........................ 144
Raising soft top ........................... 145
Wind screen .................................... 148
Antenna ........................................... 151

95 Automatic climate control
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Rear window defroster
(only functions with hardtop installed)
Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 2.
To select, press F button.
To cancel, press F button again.
Note:
Heavy accumulation of snow and ice should be removed
before activating the defroster.
The rear window defroster uses a large amount of power.
To keep the battery drain to a minimum, turn off the
defroster as soon as the window is clear.
The defroster is automatically turned off after a
maximum of 12 minutes of operation.
If several power consumers are turned on
simultaneously, or the battery is only partially charged,
it is possible that the defroster will automatically turn
itself off. When this happens, the indicator lamp inside
the switch starts blinking.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
defroster automatically turns itself back on.Air distribution
Press b button repeatedly until the requested
symbol is displayed.
Air volume
Press “-” or “+” side of rocker switch ï until the
requested blower speed is attained. A choice of 7 blower
speeds is available.
To switch the automatic climate control off, press
“-” side of rocker switch ï until symbol OFF is
displayed.
The fresh air supply to the car interior is shut off.
While driving, use this setting only temporarily,
otherwise the windshield could fog up.
To switch the automatic climate control on again,
pressU, P, or “+” side ofï.

137 Hardtop
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Hardtop or
panorama roof (optional)
The removal or attachment of the hardtop can be carried
out by 2 persons.Removing hardtop
1. Engage parking brake.
2. Open doors.
3. Disconnect plug (1) for rear window defroster.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not place your hands between the hardtop and
the car body while the hardtop is being locked or
unlocked. Serious personal injury may occur.
1
P65.00-0281-26

138 Hardtop
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
4. Within 10 seconds of turning key in steering lock to
position 2 (engine not running), slide soft top
switch (2) back and hold.
Please note, if soft top switch is activated after
10 seconds have expired, turn the key back to
position 0 first before the hardtop removing
procedure can be started again at step 4.The unlocking procedure begins after approx.
2 seconds:
• The roll bar lowers.
• The indicator lamp in the soft top switch lights
up.
•The hardtop unlocks.
P65.00-0282-26
2

139 Hardtop
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 5. After the hardtop has unlocked, remove the key
from the steering lock and turn radio and telephone
off to lower antenna. The indicator lamp in the soft
top switch should go out.
Important!
Removal of the key from the steering lock is a safety
measure ensuring that the key cannot be turned to
position 2 and the soft top switch is without
function should anybody push the switch forward
causing the roof locking mechanism to work. If
hands are at that moment between roof and car
body they can be badly injured.6. Lift the hardtop vertically from its attachment points
(3) and locating points (4) and carefully remove to
the rear. Exercise caution when maneuvering the
top. To avoid paint damage, the top’s mounting pins
must not be allowed to contact the body.
Wa r n i n g !
To prevent possible accidents, drive the vehicle
only with the hardtop either completely closed and
locked, or fully lowered into its storage
compartment.

140 Hardtop
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Attaching hardtop
1. Engage parking brake and turn key in steering lock
to position 2.
2. Lower roll bar, see page 118.
3. Open doors.
4. Turn radio and telephone off to lower power
antenna, turn key in steering lock to position 0 and
remove.5. From the rear of the vehicle, lift the hardtop
carefully over the attachment points (1) and locating
points (2). First guide the rear pins of the top
vertically into the rear attachment points, then
lower the roof onto the vehicle and locate the front
locking pins. Exercise caution when maneuvering
the top. To avoid paint damage, the top’s mounting
pins must not be allowed to contact the body.