Page 76 of 304

76 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Checking the batteries
Press button
‹
 or
Œ
 longer than 
1second.
The battery check lamp4 lights up 
briefly to indicate that the key batteries 
are in order.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
key from the steering lock and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. It is possible for children to open a 
locked door from the inside, which could re-
sult in an accident and/or serious injury.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the 
vehicle with the remote control, then 
either the batteries in the remote con-
trol are discharged, the remote control 
is malfunctioning, or the vehicle battery 
is drained.
Check the batteries in the remote 
control and replace them if neces-
sary (
page 212)
or
Synchronize the remote control 
(page 213)
or
Use the folding key to unlock the 
doors (
page 210) and the trunk 
(
page 210) as required. Lock the 
vehicle using the folding key 
(page 211).
If the remote control is malfunctioning, 
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.
!If battery check lamp4 does not light 
up briefly during the check, then the re-
mote control batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 212). 
You can obtain the required batteries 
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center. 
     
        
        Page 77 of 304

77 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Loss of remote control with folding key
If you lose a remote control or the folding 
key, you should do the following:
Have the remote control deactivated 
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.
Report the loss of the remote control or 
the folding key immediately to your car 
insurance company.
If necessary have the mechanical lock 
replaced.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center 
will be glad to supply you with a replace-
ment.
Opening the trunk
The handle is located above the rear 
license plate recess.
1Trunk lid lock
2Handle
Pull handle2 and lift the trunk lid.
The trunk can also be opened from the in-
side in an emergency, see trunk lid emer-
gency release (
page 78).
Closing the trunk 
The recess is located on the inner side of   
the trunk lid.
1Recess
Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on 
recess1.
iThe vehicle must be unlocked.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always 
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk 
opening when closing the trunk lid. 
Be especially careful when small children 
are around. 
     
        
        Page 78 of 304

78 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingOpening the doors from the inside
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are 
safe to do so.
1Inside door handle
Pull on door handle1.If a door was locked, the locking knob 
will move up.
Trunk lid emergency release
The handle for the trunk lid emergency 
release is located in the trunk lid.
1Handle
Pull handle1 in direction of arrow to 
open the trunk lid.
Automatic central locking
Factory setting
The doors and the trunk automatically lock 
when the ignition is switched on and the 
left front wheel turns at vehicle speeds of 
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are 
safe to do so.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the trunk closed as, among 
other dangers such as visibility blockage, 
exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle interi-
or.
iThe anti-theft alarm system is triggered 
when the trunk is opened from the 
inside and the vehicle was previously 
centrally locked.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an 
accident if the force of the impact ex-
ceeds a preset threshold.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from 
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking when the vehicle
is pushed or
is on a test stand 
     
        
        Page 80 of 304

80 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingLocking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the vehicle from in-
side using the central locking switch. This 
can be useful, for example, if you want to 
unlock the passenger door from the inside 
or want to lock the vehicle before starting 
to drive.Locking
Press upper part1 of central locking 
switch (
page 79).
If all the doors are closed, the vehicle 
locks.
Unlocking
Press lower part2 of central locking 
switch (
page 79).
The vehicle unlocks if not previously 
centrally locked with the remote con-
trol.
iYou can open a locked door from the 
inside. Open door only when conditions 
are safe to do so.
If you have locked the vehicle with the 
remote control, the central locking 
switch does not work.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
key from the steering lock and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment 
may cause an accident and/or serious per-
sonal injury. 
     
        
        Page 82 of 304
82 Controls in detailSeatsHead restraints Removing head restraint
1Lock button
Open the retractable hardtop 
(page 129).
Pull head restraint to its highest 
position.
Press lock button1 and pull out head 
restraint.Installing head restraint
Insert head restraint and push it down 
until it engages.
Adjust head restraint to desired posi-
tion (
page 32) or (
page 33).
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly 
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of 
the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat 
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.iSLK 32 AMG has integrated, 
non-removable head restraints.
!Be sure to install the head restraint so 
that it is facing in the right direction. 
Otherwise you could damage the 
mounting. 
     
        
        Page 83 of 304

83 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For notes on how to switch on the head-
lamps and use the turn signals, see the 
“Getting started” section (
page 43).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the 
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch
M
Off
C
Parking lamps (also side marker 
lamps, tail lamps, license plate 
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only: When engine is run-
ning, the low beam is also switched 
on.
B
Low beam plus parking lamps or 
high beam headlamps (combination 
switch pushed forward).
ˆ
Standing lamps, right (turn left one 
stop)
‚
Standing lamps, left (turn left two 
stops)Daytime running lamp mode (Canada 
only)
Vehicles with automatic transmission
When the engine is running and the 
selector lever is in driving position, the low 
beam headlamps are automatically 
switched on.
When you shift from a driving position to 
positionN orP, the low beam switches off 
(2 seconds delay).
Vehicles with manual transmission
With the engine running, the low beam 
headlamps are automatically switched on.
iIf you remove the key and open the 
driver’s door while the parking lamps or 
low beam headlamps are switched on, 
then a warning sounds.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode 
activated and the engine running, the 
low beam headlamps cannot be 
switched off manually. 
     
        
        Page 85 of 304
85 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on high beams
Turn exterior lamp switch to 
position
B
 
Push the combination switch in 
direction1.
The high beam symbol is illuminated on 
the instrument cluster.
High beam flasher
Pull the combination switch briefly in 
direction2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be activat-
ed with the ignition switched on or off. It is 
activated automatically when an airbag is 
deployed.
The switch is located on the center 
console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1.
All the turn signals will blink.
Switching off hazard flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1 
again. 
     
        
        Page 89 of 304

89 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Trip odometer
Press the left knob3 (
page 20) once 
with key in steering lock position2 
(
page 29) until the trip odometer is 
reset
or
Press the left knob3 (
page 20) twice 
with key removed or in steering lock 
position0 or1 (
page 29) until the 
trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer 
(page 20) denotes excessive engine 
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply 
is interrupted if the engine is operated 
within the red marking.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed can cause some fluids which may have 
leaked into the engine compartment to 
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause 
serious burns and can occur just by opening 
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine 
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle 
and do not stand near the vehicle until it 
cools down.
iAvoid driving at excessive engine 
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.