Page 108 of 376

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.
Page 109 of 376

109 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Trip odometer
Make sure that you are viewing the trip
odometer display (
page 110).
Press the
j
or
k
button on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly until
the trip odometer appears if it is not dis-
played.
Press and hold reset knob4
(page 20) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
SL 55 AMG
O n t h e S L 5 5 A M G , t h e r e i s n o r e d m a r k i n g
denoting excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated at
an excessive speed.
Outside temperature indicator
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an Ice-Warning Device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
Page 114 of 376
114 Controls in detailControl systemMenus, submenus and functions
Menu 1
Menu 2
Menu 3
Menu 4
Menu 5
Menu 6
Menu 7
Menu 8
Standard dis-
play
AUDIO
NAVI
Distronic*
Malfunction
memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone
Commands/submenusDigital speed-
ometer
Select radio
station
Activate
route guid-
ance
Call up set-
tings
Call up malfunc-
tion messages
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consump-
tion statistics af-
ter start
Load phone
book
Call up FSS
Operate CD
player
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consump-
tion statistics
since the last re-
set
Search for
name in
phone book
Check tire
pressure*
Lighting sub-
menu
Call up range
Check engine
oil level
Vehicle sub-
menuConvenience
submenu
Page 119 of 376

119 Controls in detail
Control system
The stored messages will now be displayed
in order. See the “Practical hints” section
for malfunction and warning messages
(page 257).
Should any malfunctions occur while driv-
ing, the number of malfunctions will reap-
pear in the right display field when the key
in the starter switch is turned to position0
or removed from the starter switch.
Settings menu
In the
Settings
menu there are two func-
tions:
The function
Reset to factory set-
tings using reset button
, with which
you can reset all the settings to those
set at the factory.
A collection of submenus with which
you can make individual settings for
your vehicle.
Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until the
Settings...
menu is seen in
the left display.The following settings and submenus are
available:
iThe message memory will be cleared
when you turn the key in the starter
switch to position1 or2. You will then
only see Priority 1 malfunctions
(page 257).
Function
Page
Resetting all settings
120
Submenus in the Settings menu
120
Resetting the functions of a sub-
menu
120
Instrument cluster submenu
122
Lighting submenu
124
Vehicle submenu
127
Convenience submenu
129
Page 120 of 376

120 Controls in detailControl systemResetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all sub-
menus to the factory settings.
Press the reset knob in the instrument
cluster for approximately three sec-
onds.
In the right display you will see the re-
quest to press the reset knob again to
confirm.
Press the reset knob again.
The functions of all the submenus will
reset to factory settings.Submenus in the Settings menu
Press button
k
or
j
.
In the right display you see the collec-
tion of submenus.
Press button
ç
.
The selection marker moves to the next
submenu.
The submenus are arranged by hierarchy.
Scroll down with the ç
button, scroll up
with the
æ
button.
Move within the submenus with the
k
or
j
button to the individual functions.
The settings themselves are made with
button æ
or
ç
.Resetting the functions of a submenu
For each submenu you can reset all the
functions to the factory settings.
Move to a function in the submenu.
Press the reset knob in the instrument
cluster for approximately three sec-
onds.
In the right display you will see the re-
quest to press the reset knob again to
confirm.
Press the reset knob again.
All functions of the submenu will reset
to factory settings.
iThe settings you have changed will not
be reset unless you confirm the action
by pressing the reset knob a second
time.
Page 124 of 376

124 Controls in detailControl systemLighting submenu
Access the
Lighting
submenu via the
Set-
tings
menu. Use the
Lighting
submenu to
change the lamp and lighting settings on
your vehicle. The following functions are
available:Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Move the selection marker with button æ
or
ç
to the
Lighting
sub-
menu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
display:
Light circuit Headlamp
mode
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press
æ
or
ç
t o s e l e c t m a n u a l o r
daytime running lamp (constant) mode.
This function is not available in coun-
tries where daytime running lamps are
mandatory.With daytime running lamp mode se-
lected and the exterior lamp switch at
position0, the following lamps will
come on automatically when the en-
gine is turned on:
Parking lamps and low beam head-
lamps
License plate lamps
Function
Page
Set daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
124
Set locator lighting
125
Exterior lamps delayed
switch-off
125
Interior lighting delayed
switch-off
127
iIf you turn the exterior lamp switch to
another position, the corresponding
lamp(s) will switch on.
For safety reasons, resetting the Lighting
submenu to factory settings
(
page 111) will not reset the daytime
running lamp mode.
In the right display you will then see the
message:
Cannot be fully reset to
factory settings while driv.!
.
Page 131 of 376

131 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting parking position for exterior rear
view mirror
You can store a parking position for the
passenger exterior rear view mirror using
the memory switch (
page 100).
The exterior rear view mirror will return to
its previous position when you
shift out of reverse (after 10 seconds)
exceed the speed of 6 mph (10 km/h),
regardless of which gear is engaged
press the driver’s side mirror button
(immediately) (
page 35)
Move the selection marker with button æ
or
ç
to the
Convenience
sub-
menu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
display:
Mirror setting when park-
ing
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press
æ
or
ç
to switch function
On or
Off
.
Trip computer menu
Use the trip computer menu to call up sta-
tistical data on your vehicle. The following
information is available:
iThe mirror parking position feature
must be activated and the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror
(page 35) must be selected at the
time in order for the system to recall the
stored mirror position when reverse
gearR is engaged.
Function
Page
Fuel consumption statistics after
start
132
Fuel consumption statistics
since last reset
132
Call up range (distance to empty)
133
iThe last function called up will reap-
pear the next time you enter the trip
computer menu.
Page 132 of 376

132 Controls in detailControl systemFuel consumption statistics after start
Press button
ÿ
or
è
repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
Trip computer menu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
display:
After start.
1Distance driven since start
2Average speed since start
3Time elapsed since start
4Average fuel consumption since startFuel consumption since last reset
Press button
ÿ
or
è
repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
Trip computer menu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
display:
From reset.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Average speed since last reset
3Time elapsed since last reset
4Average fuel consumption since last re-
set
iAll statistics stored since the last en-
gine start will be reset approximately
four hours after the key in the starter
switch is turned to position0 or re-
moved from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the
key back to position1 or2 within this
time period.