2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 wheel

312 Practical hintsFlat tireMounting the spare wheel Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described above
(
page 302).

Turn spare wheel bracket counter-
clockwise to loosen.

Take the wheel out of the trunk.
Lifting the vehicle

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
(not included) or other sizable objects.
When changing wheel on a level sur-
face:
Place one chock in front of and one
behind the wheel that is diagonally
opposite to the wheel being
changed.
When changing wheel on a hill:

Place chocks on the downhill side
blocking both wheels of the other
axle.

Take the vehicle tool kit and the jack
out of the storage compartment under
the trunk floor (
page 289).
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a mounted spare
wheel. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted, en-
sure proper tire pressure and do not exceed
vehicle speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into
both sides of the vehicle. To help avoid per-
sonal injury, use the jack only to lift the ve-
hicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly
set parking brake and block wheels before
raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Be sure that the jack arm is
fully inserted in the jack tube. Always lower
the vehicle onto sufficient capacity jack-
stands before working under the vehicle.

313 Practical hints
Flat tire

On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts (ap-
proximately one full turn with wrench).
The jack support tubes are located behind
the front wheel housings and in front of the
rear wheel housings.1Jack support tube cover (except
SL 55 AMG and vehicles with
Sport Package*)

Open cover1 by pressing at point indi-
cated by arrow.

Remove cover1, taking care not to
damage the locking tabs.2Jack support tube hole (SL 55 AMG and
vehicles with Sport Package* only)

Insert a flat blade screwdriver in the
opening of cover2 and pry it out.

Remove cover2, taking care not to
damage the locking tabs.

314 Practical hintsFlat tire1Jack arm
2Jack support tube hole
3Crank
Insert jack arm1 fully into the tube
hole2 up to the stop.

Keeping jack in this position, turn
crank3 clockwise until the jack base
meets the ground. Make sure the jack
is vertical (plumb line).

Continue to turn the crank until the tire
is a maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground.Removing the wheel
1Alignment bolt

Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and re-
move.

Replace this wheel bolt with the align-
ment bolt 1 supplied in the tool kit.

Remove the remaining bolts.

Remove the wheel.
Warning!
G
Insert the jack arm fully into the jack sup-
port tube hole up to the stop. Otherwise the
vehicle may fall from the jack and cause per-
sonal injury or damage to the vehicle.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt.
This could result in damage to the bolt
and wheel hub threads.

315 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the new wheel
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.

Guide the spare wheel onto the align-
ment bolt and push it on.

Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.

Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.
Warning!
G
Inflate spare wheel tire only after the wheel
is properly mounted.
Inflate the spare wheel tire using the electric
pump (
page 316)
before
lowering the ve-
hicle.
Warning!
G
Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be re-
paired immediately. Do not continue to drive
under these circumstances! Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect mounting bolts or improperly
tightened mounting bolts can cause the
wheel to come off. This could cause an acci-
dent. Be sure to use the correct mounting
bolts.
Warning!
G
Only use genuine equipment
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts. They are identi-
fied by the Mercedes star. Other wheel bolts
may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could
tip over.

316 Practical hintsFlat tireInflating the spare tire
Take the electric air pump out of the
trunk (
page 289).
1Flap
2Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
3Union nut
4Electrical plug

Open flap 1 on air pump.

Pull out the electrical plug 4 and air
hose with the pressure gauge 2.

Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve.

Screw the air hose 2 onto the tire valve.

Insert electrical plug 4 into vehicle ci-
gar lighter socket.

Turn the key in the ignition to
position1.
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the selector lever once with-
out depressing the brake pedal.

Press 1 on the electric air pump switch.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the tire.

Inflate the tire to approx. 36 psi
(2.5 bar).
This takes about five minutes for the
spare tire. The air hose 2 and the union
nut 3 can become hot duration infla-
tion. Exercise proper caution to avoid
burning yourself when using the equip-
ment.
!Do not lower the vehicle before inflat-
ing the spare wheel tire. Otherwise the
rim may be damaged.Warning!
G
Observe instructions on air pump label.

317 Practical hints
Flat tire

Press 0 on the electric air pump switch.

Turn the key in the ignition to
position0.
or

Press KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
on the selector lever twice without de-
pressing the brake pedal.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.

If the tire pressure is above 36 psi
(2.5 bar), release excess tire pressure
using the vent screw.

Detach the electric air pump.

Stow the electrical plug and the air
hose behind the flap and place the air
pump back in the trunk.
!Do not operate the air pump longer
than eight minutes without interrup-
tion. Otherwise it may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again af-
ter it has cooled off.
Warning!
G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
iThe flat tire may be transported in the
trunk when the retractable hardtop is
lowered. Use the protective sheet pro-
vided with the spare wheel. Do not ac-
tivate the tire inflation pressure
monitor until the deflated tire has been
removed from the vehicle.

318 Practical hintsFlat tireLowering the vehicle
Lower vehicle by turning crank coun-
terclockwise until the full weight of the
vehicle is resting on the ground.

Pull the jack out of the jack support
tube.
1 - 5 Wheel bolts

Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly, fol-
lowing the diagonal sequence illustrat-
ed (1 to 5), until all bolts are tight.
Observe a tightening torque of 96 ft lb
(130 Nm).

Before storing the jack in the trunk,
crank back to storage position and fold
in the arm.Replacing jack support tube cover

Slide tongue of cover under the upper
edge of the tube opening.

Applying even pressure, press cover
until it snaps into place. Be careful not
to damage the locking tabs or clamp
the plastic retaining strap.
Warning!
G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. The wheels could come
loose if they are not tightened to a torque of
96 ft lb (130 Nm).

320 Practical hintsBatteries
Disconnecting the batteriesDisconnecting the battery for electrical
consumers

Unhook the luggage cover in the trunk.

Remove the trunk floor.
The battery for electrical consumers is
located in the right hand area of the
trunk (
page 289).

Use the 10 mm open-end wrench from
the vehicle tool kit to disconnect the
battery negative lead.

Remove the cover from the positive ter-
minal.

Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Disconnecting the starter battery

Use the 10 mm open-end wrench from
the vehicle tool kit to disconnect the
battery negative lead.

Remove the cover from the positive ter-
minal.

Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Warning!
G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its
limp-home (emergency operation) mode.
The same applies if battery is disconnected.
To brake, the driver must then apply signifi-
cantly greater brake pedal pressure and de-
press the pedal much further to obtain the
expected braking effect. If necessary, apply
full pressure to the brake pedal. Brakes are
only applied to the front wheels. Stopping
distance is increased! Adjust your driving
style accordingly. SBC brake system
(page 72).
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery

y o u w i l l n o l o n g e r b e a b l e t o t u r n t h e k e y
in the starter switch and pressing the
KEYLESS-GO
* start/stop button (if so
equipped) on the selector lever will have
no effect


the selector lever will remain locked in
positionP!To avoid damage to electrical compo-
nents, always disconnect the battery
for electrical consumers (in trunk) first.
This applies even if you only wish to
charge the starter battery. Otherwise
the electronics of the vehicle can be
damaged.