2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 batteries

379 Practical hints
Jump starting
The battery is located in the trunk under-
neath the luggage box (
page 351). Only
jump start the vehicle from the battery in
the trunk.

Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Apply parking brake.

Shift gear selector lever to positionP.

Connect positive terminals1 and3
of the batteries with the jumper cable.
Clamp cable to charged battery3
first.
1Positive terminal of discharged battery
2Negative terminal of discharged bat-
tery
3Positive terminal of charged battery
4Negative terminal of charged battery
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 287).
!Never invert the terminal connections!

380 Practical hintsJump starting
Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.

Connect negative terminals4 and2
of the batteries with the jumper cable.
Clamp cable to charged battery4
first.

Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.Now you can again turn on the electrical
consumers. Do not turn on the lights under
any circumstances.

Remove the jumper cables first from
negative terminals2 and4 and then
from positive terminals1 and3.
Now you can turn on the lights.

Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iThe message
Malfunction - electric
consumers switched off
may appear
in the instrument cluster. It will disap-
pear as soon as the battery is suffi-
ciently charged.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.

419 Index
Manual shift program mode
(SL 55 AMG Kompressor) 165
Manual shifting 159
One-touch gearshifting 159
Program mode selector switch 164
Selector lever position 158
Starting the engine 43
Winter program mode 164
B
BabySmartTM
Airbag deactivation system 67
Compatible child seats 411
Self-test 68
BabySmartTM airbag deactivation
system 411
Backrest
Folding forward 236
Folding rearward 238
BAS 76, 411
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 355, 356
Check lamp 90, 94
Checking 91, 96Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Changing 355, 356
Checking 91, 96
Batteries, vehicle
Charging 377
Disconnecting 376
Messages in display 320, 324, 325
Reconnecting 377
Removing 377
Service 375
Battery discharged
Jump starting 378
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 411
Block heater* 296
Blocking
Rear window operation 72
Brake assist system (BAS) 411
Brake fluid 279, 328
Brake pads
Message in display 326
Brakes
Warning lamp 312
Break-in period 266Bulbs, replacing
Additional turn signals 359
Fog lamps 359
Front lamps 359, 361
High beam 359
High beam bulb (Bi-Xenon* headlamps
only) 362
High beam bulb (Halogen headlamps
only) 362
High mounted brake lamp 360
License plate lamps 360, 363
Low beam 359
Parking lamps 360, 362
Side marker lamps 359, 363
Standing lamps 360, 362
Tail lamp 360
Tail lamp assemblies 363
Turn signal lamp 359

420 IndexC
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 411
Calling up
Distronic* settings 136
Range (distance to empty) 154
Service indicator 298
CAN system 411
Cargo tie-down rings 241
CD player
Operating 135
Center console
Lower part 26
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp 317
Upper part 25
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 141
Central locking
Automatic 106
From inside 107
Switch 107
Switching on/off (control
system) 149
Unlocking from inside 107Central locking switch 107
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 355, 356
Batteries (SmartKey) 355, 356
Smartkey setting 150
Vehicle level 228
Charcoal filter 192
Activating 192
Deactivating 193
Charging
Vehicle batteries 377
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 313
Checking
Coolant level 285
Oil level 279, 282
Tire inflation pressure 279
Vehicle lighting 279
Child safety 65
Airbags 58
Infant and child restraint systems 62,
65
LATCH child seat anchors 71Child safety switch see Blocking of rear
window operation 72
Cigarette lighter 247
Cleaning
Headlamps 170
Light alloy wheels 305
Parktronic* system sensor 305
Windshield 49
Wood trims 308
Climate control 174
Adjusting 178
Defrosting 179
Setting the temperature 178
Clock 144
Closing
Glove box 242
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof 206
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof with
KEYLESS-GO* 209
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof* with
KEYLESS-GO* 200
Roller sunblinds 205
Side windows 198

427 Index
Interior lighting 124
Activating automatic control 124
Deactivating automatic control 125
Delayed switch-off 149
Manual operation 125
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 38
Interior storage spaces 242
Glove box 242
J
Jack 350
Jump starting 378
K
Key, Mechanical 353
Key, SmartKey
Changing the batteries 355, 356
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Changing the batteries 355, 356KEYLESS-GO*
Activating ignition with 33
Closing
Trunk 102, 103
Closing panorama sliding/pop-up
roof* 200, 203
Closing side windows 200, 203
Closing sliding/pop-up roof* 200,
203
Factory setting 94
Global locking 94
Global unlocking 94
Important notes 92
Locking the vehicle 96
Remote controls 91
Starting the engine 44
Turning off engine 53
Unlocking and opening, trunk lid 95
Unlocking with 32
Kickdown 164, 413
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 141
Km/h or mph in speedometer 141L
Lamp bulbs, exterior 359
Lamps, exterior
Front 359
Light sensor 338
Messages in display 338–??
Replacing bulbs for rear 360, 363
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 310
Airbag Off 61
Battery (SmartKey) 89, 94
Brakes 312
CHECK ENGINE 313
Coolant 314
DTR* 216
Engine diagnostics 313
ESP 311
Fuel reserve 313
SBC 79
Seat belts 313, 315
Service indicator 297
SRS 57

429 Index
M
Main Dimensions 398
Maintenance 12
Malfunction
Displaying 137
Malfunction memory 137
Calling up 137
Clearing 138
MANUAL
Shift program mode
(SL 55 AMG Kompressor) 165
Manual headlamp mode 120
Manual operations
Fuel filler flap 357
Interior lighting control 125
Locking the trunk 105
Sliding/pop-up roof* or panorama slid-
ing/pop-up roof* 358
Unlocking the driver’s door 353
Unlocking the transmission lever 357
Unlocking the trunk lid 354
Massage function 113
MAXCOOL maximum cooling 190
Mechanical key 353Memory function 116, 413
Recalling positions from
memory 117
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing positions 118
Storing SmartKey dependent
settings 117
Menus 132
AUDIO 134
Control system 413
Distronic* 136, 217
In control system 132, 133
Malfunction memory 137
Settings menu 138
Standard display 134
Submenus 131
TEL* 155
Trip computer 153
Miles/kilometers in speedometer
Setting 141
Minispare wheel
Mounting 373Mirrors
Adjusting 38
Automatic antiglare for rear view
mirror 168
Automatic antiglare* for inside
mirror 168
Exterior rear view mirror 38
Exterior rear view mirror parking
positions 152, 169
Interior rear view mirror 38
Storing exterior mirror parking
position 118
MON 279
MON (Motor Octane Number) 413
Mph or km/h in speedometer 141
Multicontour seat* 111
Multifunction display 129, 414
Selecting language 142
Standard display 133
Multifunction display messages
ABS 319
Batteries 320, 324, 325
Brake fluid 328
Brake pads 326
Check engine 313

434 IndexSeat cushion depth
Adjusting 111
Seat heater*
Switching off 113
Switching on 113
Seat ventilation*
Switching off 114
Switching on 114
Seats 108
Adjusting 34
Easy entry/exit feature* 108
Heater* 113
Multicontour seat* 111
Split rear bench seat* 236
Ventilation 114
Securing cargo
Cargo tie-down rings 241
Selecting display 142, 143
Selector lever
Lock 43
Message in the display 323
Position (automatic
transmission) 158Self-test
BabySmartTM airbag deactivation
system 68
Tele Aid* 251
Service
Batteries 375
Calling up the service indicator 298
Major service (Service H) 297
Minor service (Service A) 297
Overdue 298
Types 297
When due 297
Service and warranty information 10
Service indicator 297
Calling up 298
Clearing 298
Service life (tires) 290
Service System see FSS 297
Setting
Convenience functions 140, 150
Cruise control 212
Daytime running lamp mode 146
Distronic* time interval 221Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 118
Higher speed in cruise control 213
Higher speed in Distronic* 219
Hours (clock) 144
Individual vehicle settings 138
Instrument lighting 126, 127
Interior lighting delayed
switch-off 149
Lamps and lighting (control
system) 146
Language, multifunction display 142
Locator lighting 147
Lower speed in cruise control 213
Lower speed in Distronic* 220
Miles/kilometers in
speedometer 141
Minutes (clock) 144, 145
Parking position for exterior rear view
mirrors 152
Slower speed in cruise control 213
Slower speed in Distronic* 220
Smartkey dependent memory 152

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