179 Controls in detail
Climate control
Adjusting center air vents:
The thumbwheels for left2 and right6
center air vents are automatically posi-
tioned for optimum interior airflow. In this
position, center air vent4 and adjustable
left and right center vents3 and5 are
fully opened.
Heating:
Only in manual mode is it possible to lower
the temperature in the headroom by regu-
lating the cold-airflow using
thumbwheel7 (
page 174).Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 48).
Press the Ubutton.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Adjusting air volume
Adjusting manually
Five blower speeds are available.
Press to decrease orQ to in-
crease air volume to the desired level.
The
Auto
display disappears and the
automatic mode is switched off. The
selected blower speed is shown in the
display.Adjusting automatically
Press the U button.
The air volume is adjusted automatical-
ly.
Defrosting
Activating
Press buttonP.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
or
Switch off air recirculation, if selected.
Press buttonO.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.iThese settings should only be selected
for a short time.
189 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Increasing
Push top of temperature control rocker
switch3 and / or5.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Decreasing
Push bottom of temperature control
rocker switch3 and / or5.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Heating:
Only in manual air distribution mode is it
possible to lower the temperature in the
headroom by adding outside air using
thumbwheel7 (
page 184) in the dash-
board.
Adjusting air distribution
Use the air distribution controls1 and7
(page 176) to separately adjust the air
distribution on each side of the passenger
compartment. The following symbols are
found on the controls:Adjusting manually
Press left or rightU.
The indicator lamp in theU button
goes out.
Turn air distribution controls on each
side of the passenger compartment to
the desired symbol.
Adjusting automatically
Press left or rightU button again.
The indicator lamp in theU button
illuminates. The air distribution is ad-
justed automatically.
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on.
Press the left or rightU button.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center,
side and rear passenger com-
partment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windows
X
Directs air into the entire vehi-
cle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells
305 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning the Distronic* system sensor
cover
1Distronic system sensor cover
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo,
with plenty of water to clean sensor
cover1.
To prevent scratches, never apply strong
force and use only a soft, non-scratchy
cloth when cleaning the sensor cover. Do
not attempt to wipe dirty sensors with a
dry cloth or sponge.Cleaning the Parktronic* system
sensors
1Parktronic* sensors
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo
with plenty of water.
When using a steam cleaner or power
washer, aim nozzle only briefly from a min-
imum distance of 11.8 in (30 cm) at
sensors1.To prevent scratches, never apply strong
force and use only a soft, non-scratchy
cloth when cleaning the sensor. Do not at-
tempt to wipe dirty sensors with a dry cloth
or sponge.
Wiper blades
Turn on the wipers and place it in a ver-
tical position.
For information on placing the wipers in a
vertical position, see “Replacing wiper
blades” (
page 364).
iRestart the engine after cleaning sen-
sor cover1.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms away
from the windshield to a vertical posi-
tion only. They could otherwise dam-
age the hood.
306 OperationVehicle care
Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.Window cleaning
Turn on the wipers and place it in a ver-
tical position.
For information on placing the wipers in a
vertical position, see “Replacing wiper
blades” (
page 364).Use a window cleaning solution on all glass
surfaces. An automotive glass cleaner is
recommended.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch before
cleaning the wiper blades, otherwise the
wiper motor might suddenly turn on and
cause injury.!Fold the windshield wiper arms back
onto the windshield before turning the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms away
from the windshield to a vertical posi-
tion only. They could otherwise dam-
age the hood. Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch before
cleaning the windshield, otherwise the wiper
motor might suddenly turn on and cause in-
jury.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back
onto the windshield before turning the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.
417 Index
A
ABS 74, 411
ABS control 75
Malfunction indicator lamp 310
Messages in display 319
Warning lamp 310
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 164
Accident
In case of 50
Activating
Air conditioning (cooling) 182, 194
Air recirculation mode 180, 191
Anti-theft alarm system 84
Automatic climate control 186
Central locking (control system) 149
Charcoal filter 192
Climate control 176
Defrosting 179
Distance warning function* 223
Distronic* 219
Easy-entry/exit feature* 150
ESP 79
Exterior headlamps 47
Exterior lamps 120Front fog lamps 122
Hazard warning flasher 124
Headlamps 47
High beams 123
Ignition 31
Ignition with KEYLESS-GO* 33
Immobilizer 53, 83
Rear fog lamp 121, 122
Rear window defroster 173
Residual heat 182, 194
Seat heater* 113
Tow-away alarm 85
Windshield wipers 48
Adding
Engine oil 284
Additional turn signal 359
Adjustable air vents, rear passenger
compartment 195
Adjusting 34
Air distribution 178, 189
Air volume 178, 179, 190
Backrest tilt 36
Exterior rear view mirror 38
Head restraint height 36
Head restraint tilt 36Instrument cluster illumination 126
Interior rear view mirror 38
Mirrors 38
Multicontour seat* 111
Seat cushion depth 111
Seat cushion tilt 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment 35
Seat height 36
Seats 34
Steering column height 37
Steering wheel 37
Adjusting steering column in or out 37
Adjusting steering column up or down 37
Adjusting the dynamic seat 153
Air conditioning (cooling)
Turning off 182, 194
Turning on 182, 194
Air distribution
Adjusting 178, 189
Air pressure see Tire inflation
pressure 290
Air recirculation mode 180, 191
Activating 180, 191
Deactivating 181, 192
421 Index
Side windows with
KEYLESS-GO* 200, 203
Sliding/pop-up roof* 201
Sliding/pop-up roof* with
KEYLESS-GO* 200, 203
Sliding/pop-up roof* with
SmartKey 202
Trunk
Vehicle with KEYLESS-GO* 102,
103
Trunk lid 99
Windows 197
Windows with SmartKey 199
Closing the trunk lid 102, 103
Cockpit 20, 411
Cockpit management and data system
(COMAND) 412
COMAND 412
COMAND* see separate operating instruc-
tions
Combination switch 123
High beam flasher 47
Turn signals 47
Windshield wipers 48Consumer information 408
Control system 129, 412
AUDIO menu 134
Convenience submenu 150
Display digital speedometer 134
Distronic* menu 136
Functions 133
Instrument cluster submenu 141,
143
Lighting submenu 146
Malfunction memory menu 137
Menus 132, 133, 413
Multifunction display 129
Multifunction steering wheel 130
Selecting radio system 134
Selecting satellite radio* system 135
Settings menu 138
Standard display menu 134
Submenus 131, 133
TEL* menu 155
Trip computer menu 153
Vehicle submenu 149Convenience submenu 150
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature* 150
Adjusting dynamic seat* 153
Setting parking position for exterior
rear view mirror 152
Setting Smartkey-dependency 152
Coolant
Checking level 285
Messages in display 329, 330, 331
Temperature gauge 127
Warning lamp 314
Coolant temperature 277
Cruise control 211, 412
Canceling 212
Driving downhill 212
Driving uphill 212
Fine adjustment 213
Lever 218
Saving current speed 212
Setting speeds 213
Cruise control lever 211
Cup holder in the center console 243
Customer Assistance Center (CAC) 411
435 Index
Speed in cruise control 213
Speed in Distronic* 219
Speedometer display mode 141
Suspension tuning 226
Synchronizing the time 144
Temperature (interior) 178, 188
Temperature indicator 141
Tire inflation pressure 143
Units
Speedometer 141
Temperature 141
Tire inflation pressure 143
Vehicle level control 227
Settings
Calling up Distronic* 136, 217
Convenience functions 150
Factory, KEYLESS-GO* 94
Factory, SmartKey 89
Individual 152
Lighting (control system) 146
Menus and submenus 131
Resetting all (control system) 138
Resetting in the submenu 139
Selective 89, 94Settings menu
Functions in 138
Individual vehicle settings 138
Submenus 139
Shift lock 415
Shifting
Gear selector lever positions 161
Into optimal gear range (automatic
transmission) 159
Side impact airbags 61
Side marker lamps 359, 363
Side windows
Automatic opening 198
Cleaning 306
Closing 197, 198, 199
Closing with KEYLESS-GO* 200, 203
Closing with SmartKey 199
Opening 197, 199
Opening fully (Express-open) 198
Opening with SmartKey 199
Stopping 199
Synchronizing power windows 200
Simultaneous wiping and washing
Windshield wipers 49Single wipe 49
Ski sack* 233
Removing 236
Unfolding and loading 233
Unloading and folding 235
SL 55 AMG Kompressor
MANUAL shift program mode 165
Sliding/pop-up roof* 201
Closing 201
Closing with KEYLESS-GO* 200, 203
Closing with SmartKey 202
Opening 201
Opening with SmartKey 202
Stopping 202
Synchronizing 204
Sliding/pop-up roof* or panorama slid-
ing/pop-up roof*
Emergency operations 358
SmartKey 88
Battery check lamp 89, 94
Checking the batteries 91, 96
Factory setting 89
Global locking 89
Global locking and unlocking 89
Global unlocking 89
437 Index
Submenus
Convenience 150
For settings 131
In control system 133
Instrument cluster 141, 143
Lighting 146
Resetting functions in Control
system 139
Selecting 139
Settings menu 139
Vehicle 149
Sun visors 170
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) 415
Suspension tuning
For comfortable driving style 226
For sporty driving style 226
Switching off
Automatic central locking (control
system) 149
Engine 52
ESP 78
Hazard warning flasher 124
Headlamps 52
Seat heating* 114Switching on
Automatic central locking (control
system) 149
ESP 79
Front fog lamps 122
Hazard warning flasher 124
Headlamps 47
High beams 123
Parking lamps 119
Rear fog lamp 122
Seat heating* 114
Windshield wipers 48
Symbol (Distronic*)
Distance warning function* 136
Synchronizing
ESP 323
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof* 209
Power windows 200
Sliding/pop-up roof* 204
Time 144
T
Tachometer 128
Displaying gear range 160
Overspeed range 128
Tail lamps 360, 363
Tar stains 303Tele Aid
Messages in display 345, 346
Tele Aid System 415
Tele Aid* 250
Emergency calls 252
Information 255
Initiating an emergency call
manually 253
Remote door unlock 257
Roadside Assistance 254
SOS button 253
Stolen vehicle tracking services 258
System self-check 251
Tele Aid System 250
Upgrade signals 256
Telematics* 415
Telephone* 24, 249
Answering a call 156
Dialing a number from the phone
book 156
Ending a call 156
Loading phone book* 156
Messages in the display 346
Operating 155
Redialing 157