Page 207 of 304
207 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Vehicles with a spare wheel
(SLK 230 Kompressor, SLK 320)
1Spare wheel with collapsible tire
2Vehicle tool kit
3Wheel wrench
4Jack
5Electric air pump, bolts for spare wheel
rimSparewheel, vehicle tool kit, wheel
wrench, jack and electric air pump are
located under the trunk floor cover.
Lift trunk floor cover.
You can take out vehicle tool kit2,
wheel wrench3 and jack4.
Electric air pump5 is secured with a belt.
Loosen the belt.
Remove electric air pump from pump
holder.
Spare wheel1 is secured with the pump
holder.
Turn pump holder counterclockwise.
Remove pump holder.
Remove spare wheel out of the wheel
well.Spare wheel bolts
Wheel bolts1 Wheel bolt for
wheel rim size 7Jx16 H2 and 8Jx16 H2
AMG wheel rim size 7
1⁄2Jx17 H2 and
8
1⁄2Jx17 H2
spare wheel rim size 4
1⁄2Bx16 H2
2 Wheel bolt for
spare wheel rim size 4
1⁄2Bx15 H2
(located with electric air pump)
Page 244 of 304

244 Practical hintsFlat tire
Detach the electric air pump.
Reinstall tire valve cap.
Stow the electrical plug and the air
hose behind the flap and place the air
pump back in the trunk.
Close the trunk lid.Storing collapsible spare wheel in
wheel well
Before you can store the spare wheel with
collapsible tire in the wheel well you have
to release the air pressure of the tire.
Unscrew valve stem removal tool,
which is part of the valve cap, from tire
valve.
Using the valve stem removal tool,
open tire valve slightly by turning the
tire valve insert counterclockwise to
release air pressure.
When the air pressure has been re-
leased, remove tire valve insert (pro-
tect it from dirt and sand) using the
previously removed tire valve cap.
Once all air is out of the tire, and the
tire has collapsed to its original shape,
reinstall the tire valve insert and valve
cap.
Place spare wheel in wheel well and
secure it with the pump holder.
Tu rn pu m p hold er cl ockwi se to its st op.
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.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified vehicle capacity weight (as indicat-
ed by the label on the pillar in the driver’s
door opening). Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible injury when unscrewing
air pump filler hose from tire valve after in-
flating the tire, use a rag since the tire valve
could be hot.
Page 246 of 304

246 Practical hintsBatteryDisconnecting the battery
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Open the hood (
page 171).
Disconnect the battery negative
lead3.
Remove the cover2 from the positive
terminal.
Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the battery
Remove the screw on the swivel bar.
Remove the swivel bar. Take out the
battery.
Charging and reinstalling battery
Charge battery in accordance with the
instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.
Reinstall the charged battery. Follow
the previously described steps in re-
verse order.
Reconnecting the battery
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Connect the positive lead and fasten its
cover2.
Connect the negative lead3.
Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Large 12-volt storage batteries contain
lead. Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.Warning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.!Never invert the terminal connections!!The battery, its filler caps and the vent
tube must always be securely installed
when the vehicle is in operation.
iThe following procedures must be car-
ried out following any interruption of
battery power (e.g. due to reconnec-
tion):
Set the clock (
page 90).
Resynchronize the ESP
(page 195).
Re-enter the radio code (see radio
operating instructions).
Resynchronize side windows
(page 128).
Page 251 of 304

251 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing eye
SLK 230 Kompressor except Sport
Package*, SLK 320 except Sport
Package*
The rear towing eye is located at the right,
below the bumper.
The front towing eye is located on the pas-
senger-side behind the grille in the bumper
panel.
1Grille SLK 320
except Sport Package*
2Grille SLK 230 Kompressor
except Sport Package*Removing grille SLK 320
Hold left and right end of grille1 and
pull out firmly.
Installing grille SLK 320
Position grille1 and press securely.
The grille should audibly snap into
place.
Removing grille SLK 230 Kompressor
Hold grille2, fold it down and pull out
firmly.
Installing grille SLK 230 Kompressor
Position grille2 and press securely.
The grille should audibly snap into
place.
iThe selector lever will remain locked in
positionP and the key will not turn in
the starter switch if the battery is dis-
connected or discharged. See notes on
the battery (
page 245) or on jump
starting (
page 247).
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Manual unlocking of transmission se-
lector lever (page 214).
Page 252 of 304
252 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleInstalling towing eye bolt
SLK 32 AMG, Sport Package*
The rear towing eye is located at the right,
below the bumper.
SLK 32 AMG and Sport Package are fitted
with a towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is stored with the jack
in the trunk (
page 206).
The threaded hole for the towing eye bolt
is located on the passenger-side behind
the grille in the bumper panel.
1Grille SLK 32 AMG, Sport Package*Removing grille
Hold grille1 (arrow) and pull forward.
Installing towing eye bolt
Take towing eye bolt and wheel wrench
out of trunk.
Screw towing eye bolt into its stop and
tighten with wheel wrench.
Removing towing eye bolt
Loosen towing eye bolt with wheel
wrench.
Unscrew towing eye bolt.
Store towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench in trunk.
Installing grille
Position grille1 and press securely
The grille should audibly snap into
place.
Page 294 of 304

294 IndexManual transmission 91
Shifting into reverse 92
Starting with 40
Microphone
Hands-free microphone 25
Mirrors
Adjusting 35
Automatic antiglare for rear view
mirror 99
Exterior rear view mirror 35
Inside rear view mirror 35
MON 169
MON (Motor Octane Number) 281
N
Night security illumination 87
O
Occupant safety 52
Airbags 53
Children and airbags 54
Children in the vehicle 60
Fastening the seat belt 37
Infant and child restraint systems 60
Seat belts 37, 55
Odometer, main 21
OilAdding 175
Checking level 172
Consumption 172
Dipstick 172
Filler neck 175
Viscosity 280
Oil level
Checking 170
One-touch gearshifting 94
Canceling gear range limit 94
Downshifting 94
Upshifting 94
Opening
Ashtray 142
Doors from the inside 78
Fuel filler flap 169
Fuel filler flap manually 213
Glove box 139
Hardtop in an emergency 215
Hood 171
Retractable hardtop 215
Side windows 127
Trunk 77
Windows 127
Operating
Audio system 111Garage door opener 155
Integrated remote control 155
Radio transmitters 166
Safety 14
Telephone 111
Telephone* 123
Vehicle outside the USA and
Canada 11
Operating safety 14
Audio system 111
Operator’s Manual 8
Ornamental moldings 189
Outside temperature indicator 90
Overdue service 186
Overhead control panel 25
Overspeed range 281
P
Paintwork 188
Panic alarm 65
Panic button on remote control 65
Parcel net
In front passenger footwell 141
Parking 47, 161
Parking brake 42, 47
Engaging 47
Releasing 42