2002 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 inflation pressure

5 Contents
Practical hints First aid kit ..................................... 216
Stowing things in the vehicle ...... 216
Vehicle tools .................................... 217
Vehicle jack ..................................... 218
Fuses ................................................ 219
Hood .................................................220
Automatic transmission
fluid level ...................................222
Checking engine oil level .............222
Coolant level ...................................224
Adding coolant ...............................225
Windshield and
headlamp washer
fluid mixing ratio ......................226
Wheels .............................................227
Tire replacement ............................227
Rotating wheels ..............................228
Spare wheel ....................................229
Changing wheels ........................... 231
Tire inflation pressure ..................235
Battery .............................................237
Battery Recycling .......................238Jump starting ................................. 239
Towing the vehicle ........................ 241
Exterior lamps ............................... 243
Headlamp assembly
(Halogen) .................................... 244
Taillamp assemblies .................. 250
Changing batteries in the
remote control ........................... 252
Synchronizing ............................ 253
Raising soft top manually ............ 254
Replacing wiper blade ................. 258
Manual release of
fuel filler flap ............................ 260
Trunk lamp ..................................... 260
Vehicle care Cleaning and care
of the vehicle ............................. 262
Power washer ............................. 263
Tar stains .................................... 263
Paintwork, Painted Body
Components ................................ 263
Engine cleaning ......................... 264
Vehicle washing ......................... 264Ornamental moldings ................264
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses ......................264
Window cleaning .......................265
Light alloy wheels ......................265
Instrument cluster .....................265
Steering wheel and
gear selector lever ......................265
Cup holder ...................................265
Seat belts .....................................266
Headliner, shelf behind
roll bars, and other hard
plastic trim items .......................266
Soft top .........................................266
Headliner .....................................267
Wind screen ................................267
Automatic antenna .....................267
Wiper blade .................................267
Headlamp cleaning
system ..........................................267
Leather upholstery .....................268
Plastic and rubber parts ............268
Illuminated door sill panels .....268

176 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly - Save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent, depends on driving
habits and operating conditions.
To save fuel you should:
• keep tires at the recommended inflation pressures,
• remove unnecessary loads,
• allow engine to warm up under low load use,
• avoid frequent acceleration and deceleration,
• have all maintenance work performed at regular
intervals by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Fuel consumption is also increased by driving in cold
weather, in stop-and-go traffic, on short trips and in hilly
country.Drinking and driving
Pedals
Wa r n i n g !
Drinking or taking drugs and driving can be a very
dangerous combination. Even a small amount of
alcohol or drugs can affect your reflexes,
perceptions and judgement.The possibility of a serious or even fatal accident is
sharply increased when you drink or take drugs
and drive.Please don’t drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive after drinking or taking drugs.Wa r n i n g !
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times. Objects
stored in this area may impair pedal movement.

215 Contents - Practical hints
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Practical hints First aid kit ..................................... 216
Stowing things in the vehicle ...... 216
Vehicle tools .................................... 217
Vehicle jack ..................................... 218
Fuses ................................................ 219
Hood .................................................220
Automatic transmission
fluid level ...................................222
Checking engine oil level .............222
Coolant level ...................................224
Adding coolant ...............................225Windshield and
headlamp washer
fluid mixing ratio ..................... 226
Wheels ............................................ 227
Tire replacement ........................... 227
Rotating wheels ............................. 228
Spare wheel .................................... 229
Changing wheels ........................... 231
Tire inflation pressure ................. 235
Battery ............................................. 237
Battery Recycling ....................... 238
Jump starting ................................. 239
Towing the vehicle ........................ 241Exterior lamps ................................243
Headlamp assembly
(Halogen) .....................................244
Taillamp assemblies ..................250
Changing batteries in the
remote control ...........................252
Synchronizing ............................253
Raising soft top manually .............254
Replacing wiper blade .................258
Manual release of
fuel filler flap .............................260
Trunk lamp .....................................260

229 Tires, Wheels
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Notes:
Thoroughly clean the inner side of the wheels any time
you rotate the wheels or wash the vehicle underside.
The use of retread tires is not recommended. Retread
tires may adversely affect the handling characteristics
and safety of the vehicle.
Dented or bent rims can cause tire pressure loss and
damage to the tire beads. For this reason, check rims for
damage at regular intervals. The rim f langes must be
checked for wear before a tire is mounted. Remove
burrs, if any.
Check and ensure proper tire inflation pressure after
rotating the wheels. For tire inflation pressure see
page 235.Spare wheel
(except Sport Package)
The spare wheel rim size is 8
1/4 J x 17 H2.
In the case of a f lat tire, or breakdown, you may
temporarily use the spare wheel.
Unid irectional tires must a lways be mou nted w it h a rrow
on tire sidewall pointing in direction of vehicle forward
movement.
If the arrow on tire sidewall does not point in direction
of vehicle forward movement when using the spare
wheel, observe the following restrictions:
• Drive to the nearest repair facility to have the flat
tire repaired or replaced as appropriate.
• Do not operate vehicle with more than one spare
wheel mounted.
For additional information, refer to page 274.
Wa r n i n g !
The spare wheel rim is for temporary use only. Use
for over a total of 12 000 miles (20 000 km)
(aggregate of all uses) may cause wheel rim failure
leading to an accident and possible injuries.

235 Tires, Wheels
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Tire inflation pressure
A table (see fuel filler flap) lists the tire inflation
pressures specified for Mercedes-Benz recommended
tires as well as for the varying operating conditions.
Important!
Tire pressure changes by approx. 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per
18°F (10°C) of air temperature change. Keep this in
mind when checking tire pressure inside a garage -
especially in the winter.
Example:
If garage temperature = approx. +68°F (+20°C) and
ambient temperature = approx. +32°F (0°C) then the
adjusted air pressure = specified air pressure +3psi
(+0.2 bar).
Tire pressures listed for light loads are minimum values
offering high driving comfort. Increased inflation
pressures for heavy loads produce favorable handling
characteristics with lighter loads and are perfectly
permissible. The ride of the vehicle, however, will
become somewhat harder.
Tire temperature and pressure increase with the vehicle
speed. Tire pressure should therefore only be checked
and corrected on cold tires. Correct tire pressure in
Wa r n i n g !
Do not drive the vehicle while the wheel change
switch is activated since the vehicle suspension
will not function properly.Wa r n i n g !
The spare wheel rim is for temporary use only. Use
for over a total of 12 000 miles (20 000 km) may
cause wheel rim failure leading to an accident and
possible injuries. Vehicles with Sport Package:
The dimensions of the spare wheel are different
from those of road wheels. As a result, the vehicle
handling characteristics change when driving with
a mounted spare wheel.The spare wheel should only be used temporarily,
and replaced with a regular road wheel as quickly
as possible.

236 Tires, Wheels
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
warm tires only if pressure has dropped below the
pressure listed in the table and the respective operating
conditions are taken into consideration.
An underinflated tire due to a slow leak (e.g. due to a
nail in the tire) may cause damage such as tread
separation, bulging etc. Regular tire pressure checks at
intervals of no more than 14 days are therefore
essential.
If a tire constantly loses air, it should be inspected for
damage.
The spare tire should be checked periodically for
condition and inflation. Spare tire will age and become
worn over time even if never used, and thus should be
inspected and replaced when necessary.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires can
result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they
are more likely to become punctured or damaged
by road debris, potholes etc. Follow recommended
inflation pressures.Do not overload the tires by exceeding the specified
vehicle capacity weight (as indicated by the label
on the driver’s door latch post). Overloading the
tires can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout.

292 Index
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Information ................................................................ 160
Initiating an emergency call ................................... 158
Roadside Assistance ................................................. 159
Telephone, general ........................................................ 132
Telephones and two-way radio ..................................... 154
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ................................ 155
Tires
Driving instructions ................................................. 179
Inflation pressure .....................................................235
Replacement ..............................................................227
Speed rating ............................................................... 181
Traction ...................................................................... 180
Tow-away alarm ................................................................ 43
Tow-away protection ........................................................ 43
Towing the vehicle ......................................................... 241
Trip odometer ................................................................... 79
Trunk ................................................................................. 38
Trunk lamp .....................................................................260
Trunk lid
Emergency release ..................................................... 40
Trunk lid release switch ................................................. 39
UUnlocking the vehicle ...................................................... 30VVehicle jack ..................................................................... 218
Vehicle tools .................................................................... 217WWarranty coverage ........................................................ 270
What you should know
at the gas station ...................................................... 200
Wheels ............................................................................ 227
Changing ....................................................................231
Rotating ..................................................................... 228
Spare wheel ............................................................... 229
Tire replacement ...................................................... 227
Where to find it ................................................................ 13
Wind screen ....................................................................148
Installation .................................................................148
Removal ...................................................................... 150
Setting up ................................................................... 150