2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG immobilizer

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 7
Product information ................................ 7
Operator’s Manual .................................. 8
Service and warranty information ..... 8
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles ............. 9
Maintenance .................................. 10
Roadside Assistance ...................... 10
Change of address or ownership.... 10
Operating your vehicle outside the USA
or Canada ...................................... 11
Where to find it .................................... 12
Symbols ............................................... 13
Operating safety .................................. 14
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 14
Problems with your vehicle .................. 15
Reporting safety defects...................... 16
Reporting safety defects ................ 16At a glance......................................... 17
Cockpit ................................................ 18
Instrument cluster ............................... 20
Multifunction steering wheel ............... 22Center console ..................................... 23
Upper part ...................................... 23
Lower part ...................................... 24
Overhead control panel ........................ 25
Door control panel................................ 26
Getting started................................... 27
Unlocking ............................................. 28
Unlocking with the SmartKey.......... 28
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* ......... 30
Adjusting .............................................. 32
Seats............................................... 32
Steering wheel ................................ 34
Mirrors ............................................ 35
Driving .................................................. 37
Fastening the seat belts.................. 37
Starting the engine ......................... 39
Switching on headlamps ................. 43
Turn signals and high beam ............ 43
Windshield wipers ........................... 44
Problems while driving .................... 45
Parking and locking .............................. 47
Parking brake.................................. 47
Switching off headlamps................. 48
Turning off engine with the key ....... 48Turning off engine with
KEYLESS-GO* ................................ 49
Emergency engine shut-down ......... 50
Safety and Security........................... 51
Occupant safety ................................... 52
Airbags ........................................... 53
Seat belts ....................................... 58
Roll bar ........................................... 61
Children in the vehicle .................... 62
Panic alarm .......................................... 67
Activating........................................ 67
Deactivating.................................... 67
Driving safety systems ......................... 68
ABS ................................................. 68
BAS ................................................. 69
ESP ................................................. 70
SBC brake system .......................... 72
Anti-theft systems ................................ 75
Immobilizer ..................................... 75
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 75
Tow-away alarm .............................. 77

48 Getting startedParking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the switch to
M
(page 43).
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 102).
Turning off engine with the key
Place the gear selector lever inP.

Turn the key in the starter switch
(page 29) to position0 and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.

Press the seat belt release button
(page 37).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take the KEY-
LESS-GO
* card (if so equipped) with you
and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. Children could release
the parking brake and/or move the gear se-
lector lever from positionP, either of which
could result in an accident and/or serious
injury.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector
lever not fully engaged in positionP is dan-
gerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 140).
When parked on an incline, also turn front
wheel against road curb.
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP.
On steep slopes, turn the front wheels
towards the road curb.

75 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating

With the key: Removing the key from
the starter switch activates the immo-
bilizer.


With KEYLESS-GO*: Turning off the en-
gine by means of the start/stop button
on the gear selector lever activates the
immobilizer.
Deactivating


With the key: Inserting the key in the
starter switch deactivates the immobi-
lizer.


With KEYLESS-GO*: Starting the en-
gine by means of the start/stop button
on the gear selector lever deactivates
the immobilizer.
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the trunk lid


the hood


a storage compartment in the rear


the glove box


the storage space under the armrest
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


unlocking and opening the driver’s
door with the mechanical key
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-
tem (
page 202) provided Tele Aid
service was subscribed to and properly
activated.

357 Index
A
ABC 183, 351
Messages in display 258
Oil level 230
Setting vehicle level 184
ABC switch 24
ABS 68, 351
Malfunction indicator lamp 21, 251
Messages in display 259
Warning lamp 70, 251
ABS/ESP
Warning lamp 250
ABS/ESP warning lamp 21
Activating
Air circulation mode 152
Air conditioning (cooling) 155
Anti-theft alarm system 76
Central locking (control system) 128
Distance warning function* 180
Distronic* 175
Easy-entry/exit feature 129
Electric air pump 316
ESP 72
Exterior lamps 102
Hazard warning flasher 105
High beams 104Ignition 29
Immobilizer 48, 75
Parktronic* 189
Rear window defroster 153
Residual heat 154
Seat heater 97, 98
Seat ventilation* 96
Steering wheel gearshift control
(SL 55 AMG Kompressor) 143
Tow-away alarm 77
Windshield wipers 44
Active Body Control (ABC) switch 24
Adjusting
Air distribution 151
Air volume 150
Backrest tilt 33
Exterior rear view mirrors 35
Head restraint height 33
Head restraint tilt 34
Inside rear view mirror 35
Lumbar support 93
Mirrors 35
Multicontour backrest* 93
Seat cushion depth 33
Seat cushion tilt 33
Seat height 33Seat in the lumbar region 94
Seat in the shoulder region 94
Seats 32
Steering wheel 34
Air conditioner (cooling)
Turning off 155
Turning on 155
Air conditioner refrigerant 343
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air pump, electric 289
Turning on 316
Air recirculation mode 152
Air volume adjustment 150
Airbags 53
Children 54
Front 57
Head-thorax 57, 58
Kneebag 57
Passenger 57
Alarm
Audible 67, 75
Canceling 76
Visual 75
Alignment bolt 351
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 288, 314
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 342, 346

360 IndexCombination switch 19, 43, 104
Consumer information 348
Control system 110, 113, 352
AUDIO menu 115
Convenience submenu 129
Distronic* menu 117
Functions 111
Instrument cluster submenu 122
Lighting submenu 124
Malfunction memory menu 118
Menus 111
Multifunction display 110
Multifunction steering wheel 111
NAVI menu 117
Standard display menu 110, 115
Submenus 114
TEL* menu 133
Trip computer menu 131
Vehicle submenu 127
Coolant 345
Adding 231
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
quantity 346
Checking level 230
Messages in display 272, 273, 274
Temperature 224Temperature gauge 108
Temperature warning lamp 21
Warning lamp 254
Cooling see Air conditioner
Courtesy lighting 107
Cruise control 168, 262, 352
Canceling 169
Driving downhill 169
Driving uphill 169
Fine adjustment 170
Setting 170
Setting a higher speed 170
Setting a lower speed 170
Setting speed 169, 170
Cruise control lever 19, 168
For cruise control 168
For Distronic* 175
Cup holder 23, 190
Opening 190
Customer Assistance Center 351
D
Daytime running lamp mode 103
Setting 124
Deactivating
Air conditioning (cooling) 155
Air recirculation mode 152Alarm 76
Anti-theft alarm system 76
Automatic climate control 154
Central locking (control system) 128
Cruise control 169
Distance warning function* 180
Distronic* 178
Engine with KEYLESS-GO* 49
Engine with the key 48
ESP 71
Exterior lamps 102
Hazard warning flasher 105
Headlamps 48, 102
Immobilizer 75
Interior light delayed switch-off 127
Parktronic* 189
Rear window defroster 153
Residual heat 154
Seat heater 97, 98
Seat ventilation* 96
Steering wheel gearshift control
(SL 55 AMG Kompressor) 143
Tow-away alarm 77
Deep water see Standing water
Defrosting 151

364 IndexI
Ignition 29, 31
Switching on 29
Immobilizer 75
Activating 48, 75
Deactivating 75
Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Infant and child restraint systems 62
Instrument cluster 20, 108, 353
Select language 123
Instrument lighting 108
Interior lighting 106
Automatic control 106
Delayed switch-off 127
Manual operation 107
Interior lighting control 25
Interior storage spaces 190
Locking storage compartments 194
Unlocking storage
compartments 194, 291
Intermittent wiping 44
J
Jack 289K
Key
Opening retractable hardtop 163
Key dependent memory 130
Key positions 29
Key, electronic
Battery check lamp 81
Changing the batteries 293
Checking the batteries 82
Closing retractable hardtop 164
Factory setting 81
Global locking 81
Global unlocking 81
Individual setting 81
Messages in display 286
Positions in starter switch 29
Remote controls 80
Reprogramming 81
Starting the engine 40
Turning off the engine 48
Unlocking 28
Key, Mechanical 290
KEYLESS-GO* 353
Key positions 30
Starting the engine 40
Turning off the engine 49KEYLESS-GO* card 84
Changing the batteries 294
Checking the batteries 87
Checking vehicle lock status 87
Factory setting 86
Global locking 86
Global unlocking 86
Locking 88
Loss of 89
Messages in display 269
Reprogramming 86
Unlocking 30, 84
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button 23, 30,
40
Keys 80
Loss of 84
Kickdown 142, 353
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 123
Kneebag 57