2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS ESP

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
Center console .................................... 23Upper part ...................................... 23
Lower Part ...................................... 24
Overhead control panel ........................ 25
Getting started................................... 27
Unlocking ............................................. 28
Unlocking with the remote control.. 28
Adjusting .............................................. 30
Seats............................................... 30
Telescoping steering column* ........ 34
Mirrors ............................................ 35
Driving .................................................. 37
Fastening the seat belts.................. 37
Starting the engine ......................... 40
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 ........................... 48
Safety and Security........................... 51
Occupant safety ................................... 52
Airbags ........................................... 53
Seat belts ....................................... 57
Children in the vehicle .................... 60
Panic alarm .......................................... 65
Activating........................................ 65
Deactivating.................................... 65
Driving safety systems ......................... 66
ABS ................................................. 66
BAS ................................................. 68
ESP ................................................. 68
Anti-theft systems ................................ 71
Immobilizer ..................................... 71
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 71
Tow-away alarm .............................. 72Controls in detail................................ 73
Locking and unlocking.......................... 74
Keys ................................................ 74
Opening the trunk ........................... 77
Closing the trunk ............................ 77
Opening the doors from the inside . 78
Trunk lid emergency release ........... 78

7
Product information
Introduction
Product informationPlease observe the following in your own
best interest:
We recommend using Mercedes-Benz orig-
inal parts as well as conversion parts and
accessories explicitly approved by us for
your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine
their reliability, safety and their special
suitability for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.We are unable to make an assessment for
other products and therefore cannot be
held responsible for them, even if in indi-
vidual cases an official approval or authori-
zation by governmental or other agencies
should exist. Use of such parts and acces-
sories could adversely affect the safety,
performance or reliability of your vehicle.
Please do not use them.Mercedes-Benz original parts as well as
conversion parts and accessories ap-
proved by us are available at your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center where you will
receive comprehensive information, also
on permissible technical modifications,
and where proper installation will be per-
formed.

21 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Left indicator lamps
with:W
Low windshield
washer and head-
lamp washer* sys-
tem fluid level
warning lamp
200
/
Low engine coolant
level warning lamp
201
N
Low engine oil level
warning lamp
200
1
Supplemental re-
straint system indi-
cator lamp
52,
197
2
Brake pad wear in-
dicator lamp
202
?
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
199
_
Telescoping steer-
ing column warning
lamp*
200
Item
Page
2
Warning display with:D
Coolant tempera-
ture gauge
88
A
Fuel gauge with fuel
reserve warning
lamp
201
Outside temperature
indicator
90
3
Knob for:

Instrument cluster illu-
mination
88


Resetting trip odome-
ter
89


Activating Flexible Ser-
vice System (FSS) indi-
cator
185
4
Speedometer with:L
Turn signal
K
indicator lamps
v
Electronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
68,
194
Trip odometer
89
Main odometer
5
Knob for:

Setting clock
90
6
Tachometer with:Selector lever position
41, 93
Digital clock
90
7
Right indicator lamps
with:$
Exterior lamp failure
indicator lamp
203
A
High beam head-
lamp indicator
43, 84
#
Charge indicator
lamp
202
Item
Page

22 At a glanceInstrument cluster
Item
Page
;
Brake warning
lamp, except
Canada
47,
198
3
Brake warning
lamp, Canada only
¿
Brake Assist Sys-
tem (BAS)/Elec-
tronic Stability
Program (ESP) mal-
function indicator
lamp
68,
194
-
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) malfunc-
tion indicator lamp
66,
196
<
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp
57,
199

23 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Cup holder
140
2
Center air outlet adjust-
ment
102
Side air outlet adjustment
102
3
Climate control
102
Rear window defroster
105
4
Audio system
111
5
Seat heater* passenger
side
81
6
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
71
Tow-away alarm switch
72
7
Central locking switch
78
8
Hazard warning flasher
switch – switching on/off
85
9
ESP control switch
70
10
Headlamp washer* switch
100
11
Seat heater* driver’s side
81

28 Getting startedUnlockingThe “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section will help you with further in-
formation. The corresponding page refer-
ences are at the end of each segment.
UnlockingUnlocking with the remote controlRemote control with folding key1Release button for key
2‹
Lock button
3
Œ
Unlock button
4
Â
Panic button (
page 65)

Press unlock button
Œ
on the re-
mote control.
All turn signal lamps blink once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.

Press release button1 on the remote
control.
The key folds out.

Get in the vehicle and insert the key in
the steering lock (
page 29).

35 Getting started
Adjusting
Mirrors
Adjust the inside and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.Inside rear view mirror

Manually adjust the inside rear view
mirror.
Exterior rear view mirrorThe switch is located on the center
console.
1Driver’s side mirror
2Passenger side mirror

Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
All the lights in the instrument cluster
light up.
Warning!
G
In the case of an accident, liquid electrolyte
may escape the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or the respiratory sys-
tem. In case it does, immediately flush af-
fected area with water, and seek medical
help if necessary.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
side rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes. !Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can only be
completely removed while in their liq-
uid state and by applying plenty of wa-
ter.


49 Getting started
Parking and locking

Press the seat belt release button
(page 38).

After exiting the vehicle, press the lock
button
‹
on the remote control
(
page 28).
The turn signal lamps blink three times.
The locking knobs on the doors move
down.More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 74).
iVehicles with automatic transmission:
The key can only be removed from the
steering lock with the gear selector
lever in positionP.!With the key removed and the driver’s
door open, a warning sounds if the ve-
hicle’s exterior lamps (except standing
lamps) are not switched off.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure that there
is no possibility of someone getting caught
in a door during closing.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock your ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.