2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 page 96

164 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopClosing the retractable hardtop with
the key
Aim the transmitter eye at the door
handle.

Press and hold button
‹
until the
retractable hardtop is completely
closed.
The retractable hardtop and the side
windows close. In the tachometer dis-
play you will see the message Hardtop
closed
.Problems when operating the retract-
able hardtop
Indicator lamp in the retractable hard-
top switch is blinking
Several problems may cause the indicator
lamp in the hardtop switch to blink when
activated:


The luggage cover in the trunk is not
closed.
Close the luggage cover in the
trunk.


The trunk lid is open.
Close the trunk lid.


The battery voltage is too low.
Start engine and let run while acti-
vating switch.


The hardtop drive system has shut it-
self down. For safety reasons, no more
than five consecutive attempts may be
made to raise or lower the hardtop.
After about ten minutes you may
again attempt to open or close the
retractable hardtop again.
If the indicator lamp in the retractable
hardtop switch blinks when starting off or
while driving and you hear a warning sound
for a maximum of 10 seconds, the retract-
able hardtop is not locked.

Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 162) before continuing to
drive.
If the indicator lamp continues to blink af-
ter you have carried out the above actions,
there is a malfunction.

Have the retractable hardtop system
checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close a warning sounds and
the retractable hardtop switch blinks. In the
speedometer display you will see
K
, in
the tachometer display you will see the mes-
sage
being lowered!
. After about
15 seconds the roof hydraulics lose pres-
sure.
Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(
page 162) before continuing to drive.

165 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Indicator lamp in the retractable hard-
top switch lights when vehicle is
stopped
If the indicator lamp in the retractable
hardtop switch lights while the vehicle is
standing still and the switch was not acti-
vated, then the retractable hardtop is not
locked.
Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 162) before continuing to
drive.
The retractable hardtop will not lock
There is a malfunction in the retractable
hardtop system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.Wind screen
The wind screen deflects drafts away from
the driver and passenger when the hardtop
is lowered. It is stored in a separate stor-
age bag.
Installing

Leave the wind screen folded and place
it on the roll bar.1Guide tabs

Slide the wind screen into the roll bar
until the guide taps on each side latch
underneath the roll bar. Make sure that
the fastening straps do not get caught.

Raise the roll bar slightly (
page 61).
Warning!
G
The wind screen can restrict the driver’s vi-
sion to the rear of the vehicle. To prevent a
possible accident when visibility is limited
(e.g. in darkness), the upper part of the wind
screen should be folded back.

166 Controls in detailRetractable hardtop2Close the fastening straps
Guide the fastening straps around the
top of the roll bar and close the buck-
les.

Tighten the fastening straps if neces-
sary.

Lower the roll bar.

Fold the upper section of the wind
screen up towards the head restraints
until it stops.Removing

Fold the upper section of the wind
screen back down.

Raise the roll bar slightly (
page 61).
1Release button

Undo the buckles on the upper section
of the roll bar by pressing the release
button1.

Lower the roll bar. Make sure that the
fastening straps do not get caught.

Pull the wind screen out towards the
front of the vehicle. Be careful not to
damage interior trim with the guide
tabs.

Place the wind screen back into the
bag.
Sunshade for panorama roof*
The sunshade protects you from excessive
sunlight coming in through the panorama
roof.Warning!
G
Do not operate the sunshade while driving.
Adjusting the sunshade while driving could
cause the driver to lose control of the vehi-
cle.

168 Controls in detailDriving systems
Driving systemsThe driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed


ABC with vehicle level control systems,
with which you can change vehicle sus-
pension characteristics


Parktronic*, which assists the driver
during parking maneuvers
The driving systems BAS, ABS, SBC, and
ESP are described in the “Safety” section
(
page 68).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set any speed
over 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column (
page 18).
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always re-
main responsible for the vehicle speed and
for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road,
traffic, and weather conditions make it ad-
visable to travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

171 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases the driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
during travel on expressways and other
major roads.

If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at a preset
distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as cruise control (
page 168).
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no sub-
stitute for active driving involvement. It does
not react to stationary objects, nor recog-
nize or predict the curvature and lane layout
or the movement of vehicles ahead. Distron-
ic can only apply a maximum of 20% of the
vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to road, weather and traffic con-
ditions and to provide the steering, braking
and other driving inputs necessary to retain
control of the vehicle.Warning!
G
Distronic is a convenience system, its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. It is not
however, intended to, nor does it, replace
the need for extreme care. The responsibili-
ty for the vehicle speed and the distance to
the vehicle ahead, including most impor-
tantly brake operation to assure safe stop-
ping distance, always rests with the driver.
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account.
Warning!
G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.iFor operation in the USA only: This de-
vice complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:

This device may not cause harmful
interference, and


this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.

175 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic activated
When Distronic is activated the DTR sym-
bol and the set speed are seen in the left
display.
1Symbol for activated Distronic
2Set speedCruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means
of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column.
1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Deactivate Distronic
4Resume at previously set speedActivating Distronic
You can activate Distronic if


you are driving over 25 mph
(Canada: 40 km/h)


ESP is activated (
page 70)
When Distronic is activated the speedome-
ter display will show a message such as
DTR60mph
.
If Distronic is deactivated, the speedome-
ter display will show the message
DTR --- mph
.
In the following cases you cannot activate
Distronic:


up to two minutes after starting the en-
gine


when you brake


if you have set the parking brake


if the gear selector lever is in
positionP, R or N.

176 Controls in detailDriving systems1Set speed
2White DTR indicator lamp
E
Setting the current speed
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift or depress the cruise control
lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.Setting a higher speed

Lift the cruise control lever to
position1 (
page 175) and hold it up
until the desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
iThe vehicle speed displayed on the
speedometer can briefly vary from the
speed setting on the distronic system.
iIf you do not take your foot off of the
accelerator completely, the following
message will appear in the speedome-
ter display field:DTR override
. The distance to a slower
moving vehicle in front of you will not
be set. Your vehicle speed will then be
determined only by the accelerator
pedal position.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate Distronic. After brief ac-
celeration (e.g. for passing), the cruise
control will resume the last speed set.

177 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a lower speed
Depress the cruise control lever to
position2 (
page 175) and hold it
down until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow1 (
page 175).
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2 (
page 175).
Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow4 (
page 175).
or

Pull and hold the cruise control lever in
the direction of arrow4 (
page 175)
and hold it until you reach the desired
speed.Resetting stored speeds

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow4 (
page 175).
Distronic is set to the last stored
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the rate of de-
celeration is too low.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could endanger yourself and oth-
ers.