ContentsControls in detail...............................  79
Locking and unlocking .........................  80
Keys ...............................................  80
KEYLESS-GO card*.........................  84
Opening the doors from the inside .  89
Opening the trunk from the inside..  89
Trunk lid emergency release ..........  90
Closing the trunk lid .......................  91
Automatic central locking ..............  91
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ...............................  92
Seats....................................................  93
Lumbar support ..............................  93
Multicontour backrest* ..................  93
Moving the seats forward and 
backward........................................  95
Seat ventilation* ............................  96
Seat heater.....................................  97
Memory function..................................  99
Storing positions into memory .....  100
Recalling positions from memory .  100
Storing parking position ...............  100
Lighting ..............................................  102
Exterior lamp switch .....................  102
Combination switch......................  104Hazard warning flasher ................  105
Interior lighting.............................  106
Courtesy lighting ..........................  107
Instrument cluster .............................  108
Instrument cluster illumination ....  108
Coolant temperature gauge .........  108
Trip odometer ..............................  109
Tachometer ..................................  109
Outside temperature indicator .....  109
Control system ..................................  110
Multifunction display ....................  110
Multifunction steering wheel ........  111
Menus ..........................................  113
Standard display menu ................  115
AUDIO menu ................................  115
NAVI menu ...................................  117
Distronic* menu...........................  117
Malfunction memory menu ..........  118
Settings menu ..............................  119
Trip computer menu .....................  131
TEL menu* ...................................  133
Automatic transmission .....................  137
One-touch gearshifting.................  138
Gear ranges..................................  139
Gear selector lever position .........  140
Program mode selector switch.....  141Accelerator position .....................  142
Steering wheel gearshift control 
(Speedshift) and manual shift program 
SL 55 AMG...................................  142
Emergency operation (Limp Home 
Mode) ..........................................  144
Good visibility ....................................  145
Rear view mirror ..........................  145
Headlamp cleaning system ..........  146
Rear window defroster .................  146
Sun visors ....................................  146
Automatic climate control .................  147
Setting the temperature...............  149
Adjusting air volume ....................  150
Adjusting air distribution ..............  151
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL .......  151
Defrosting ....................................  151
Air recirculation mode..................  152
Rear window defroster .................  153
Residual heat and ventilation .......  154
Deactivating the automatic climate 
control system .............................  154
Air conditioning ............................  155
Ventilated storage compartments  156
Power windows..................................  157
Opening and closing the windows  157 
108 Controls in detailInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument 
cluster can be found in the “At a glance” 
section of this manual (
page 20).
The instrument cluster is activated when 
you:
open a door
turn on the ignition
press the reset knob (
page 20)
switch on the exterior lamps
Only opening a door will activate the in-
strument cluster for approximately 
30 seconds.
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the Instrument cluster submenu of 
the control system (
page 122).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset knob to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster 
and the switches on the center console.
To brighten illumination
Turn the reset knob in the instrument 
cluster (
page 20) clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
brighten.To dim illumination
Turn the reset knob in the instrument 
cluster (
page 20) counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
dim.
Coolant temperature gauge
Under normal driving conditions, the cool-
ant temperature may rise to 248°F 
(120°C). The coolant temperature may 
rise to 266°F (130°C) at high outside tem-
peratures or when driving in hilly terrain.
The engine should not be operated with 
the coolant temperature above 266°F 
(130°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is 
dimmed or brightened to suit ambient 
light conditions.