Page 243 of 376
243 Operation
Vehicle care
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external in-
fluences which, if gone unchecked, can at-
tack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.
Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:
Air pollution
Road salt
Tar, gravel and stone chippingTo avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:
Grease and oil
Fuel
Coolant
Brake fluid
Bird droppings
Insects
Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and / or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:
Near the ocean
In industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)
During winter operationYou should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
A n y d a m a g e s h o u l d b e r e p a i r e d a s s o o n a s
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
We have selected car-care products and
compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and
which always reflect the latest technology.
You can obtain Mercedes-Benz approved
car-care products at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.
Page 248 of 376
248 OperationVehicle careSteering wheel and gear selector lever
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly
or clean with Mercedes-Benz approved
Leather Care.
Cup holder
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution. Wipe with a cloth moist-
ened in lukewarm solution. Do not use
scouring agents.
Hard plastic trim items
Pour Mercedes-Benz approved Interior
Care onto soft lint-free cloth and apply
with light pressure.
Headliner and shelf below rear window
Clean with soft bristle brush, or use a
dry-shampoo cleaner in case of excessive
dirt.Seat belts
The webbing must not be treated with
chemical cleaning agents. Only use clear,
lukewarm water and soap. Do not dry the
webbing at temperatures above 176°F
(80°C) or in direct sunlight.
Leather upholstery
Using aftermarket seat covers or wearing
clothing that have the tendency to give off
coloring (e.g. when wet, etc.) may cause
the upholstery to become permanently dis-
colored. By lining the seats with a proper
intermediate cover, contact-discoloration
will be prevented.
Wipe leather upholstery with a damp cloth
and dry thoroughly or clean with
Mercedes-Benz approved Leather Care. Ex e r c i s e p a r t i cu l a r c a r e w h e n cl e a n i n g p e r -
forated leather as its underside should not
become wet.
Plastic and rubber parts
Do not use oil or wax on these parts.
Warning!
G
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Page 258 of 376
258 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
Drive carefully!
The capability of the ABC system is re-
stricted. This can impair handling.
Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
The vehicle is losing oil.
Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
Stop, car too low
The car is parked on an extremely un-
even surface.
Press the vehicle level control button to se-
lect level 2 (
page 184).
ABC is malfunctioning.
Stop and press the ABC button to select a
higher vehicle level (
page 183).
Do not turn steering wheel too far to avoid
damaging the front fenders.
Listen for scraping noises.
Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Page 279 of 376
279 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Light sensor
Visit workshop!
The light sensor is malfunctioning.
The headlamps switch on automati-
cally.
In the control system, set lamp operation to
manual (
page 124).
Switch on headlamps using the exterior lamp
switch.
?
Visit workshop!
There may be a malfunction in the
fuel injection system
ignition system
exhaust system
fuel system
H a v e t h e e n g i n e c h e c k e d a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
(page 256).
O
Close hood!
You are driving with the hood open.
Close the hood (
page 228).
:
Engine oil level
Stop, engine off!
There is no oil in the engine. There is
a danger of engine damage.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as soon
as possible.
Turn off the engine.
Add engine oil.
Page 280 of 376
280 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
Engine oil level
Check level!
The engine oil level is too low.
Check the engine oil level (
page 228) and
add oil as required.
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level!
You have added too much engine oil.
There is a risk of damaging the en-
gine or the catalytic converter.
Have oil siphoned. Observe all legal require-
ments with respect to its disposal.
Engine oil
Visit workshop!
The engine oil has dropped to a crit-
ical level.
There is water in the oil.
Check the engine oil level (
page 228) and
add oil as required.
If you must add engine oil frequently, have
the engine checked for possible leaks.
Have the oil checked.
Engine oil level
Visit workshop!
The measuring system is malfunc-
tioning.
Have the measuring system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Page 297 of 376
297 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Notes on bulb replacement
Only use 12 volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.
Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.
Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.
Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.
If the newly installed bulb does not light
up, visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.Have the LEDs and bulbs for the following
lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center:
the additional turn signals in the exteri-
or rear view mirrors
the high mounted brake lamp
the brake lamps
the parking lamps and the side marker
lamps in the tail lamp assemblies
the rear fog lamps
the low beam (Xenon or Bi-Xenon*)
lamps
the front fog lamps
Warning!
G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:
touch or move it when hot,
drop the bulb,
scratch the bulb.
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
Page 315 of 376
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.
Page 342 of 376
342 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.CapacitiesVehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore only use
brands tested and recommended by us. Please refer to the Factory Approved Ser-
vice Products pamphlet, or inquire at your
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Engine with oil filter
SL 500
SL 55 AMG
7.9 US qt (7.5 l)
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
Recommended engine oils
Automatic transmission
9.1 US qt (8.6 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Oil
1
Rear axle
1.5 US qt (1.4 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Hydraulic system for active body control (ABC)
approx. 5.3 US qt (5.0 l)
MB Hydraulic Fluid
Power steering
approx. 1.1 US qt (1.0 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid (Pentosin
CHF 11S)
Front wheel hubs
approx. 3.0 oz (85 g) each
High temperature roller bearing grease
Brake system
1.1 US qt (1.05 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)
Cooling system
SL 500
SL 55 AMG
approx. 12.2 US qt (11.6 l)
approx. 13.7 US qt (13 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion / Antifreeze
Fuel tank
including a reserve of
21.1 US gal (80.0 l)
2.6 US gal (10.0 l)
Premium unleaded gasoline:
Posted Octane 91 (Avg. of 96 RON /
86 MON)
Air conditioning system
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG lu-
bricant oil (never R-12)
1MB part no. 001 989 21 03 10
