2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 Gear selector

Contents
Control system .................................. 127
Multifunction display .................... 127
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 128
Menus .......................................... 130
Standard display menu ................ 132
AUDIO menu ................................ 132
NAVI menu ................................... 134
Distronic* menu........................... 135
Malfunction memory menu .......... 136
Settings menu .............................. 137
Trip computer menu..................... 150
TEL menu* ................................... 152
Automatic transmission ..................... 155
One-touch gearshifting................. 156
Gear ranges ................................. 157
Gear selector lever position ......... 158
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) SL 55 AMG ............... 160
Program mode selector switch..... 161
Accelerator position ..................... 162
Manual shift program SL 55 AMG 163
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 165Good visibility ..................................... 166
Rear view mirrors .......................... 166
Windshield wipers ......................... 168
Headlamp cleaning system ........... 168
Rear window defroster .................. 169
Sun visors ..................................... 169
Automatic climate control .................. 170
Setting the temperature................ 172
Adjusting air volume ..................... 173
Adjusting air distribution............... 174
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 174
Defrosting ..................................... 175
Air recirculation mode .................. 175
Rear window defroster .................. 177
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 178
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 179
Air conditioning............................. 179
Ventilated storage compartments. 180
Power windows .................................. 181
Opening and closing the windows. 181
Synchronizing power windows ...... 183Retractable hardtop ........................... 184
Opening and closing the
retractable hardtop ....................... 184
Driving systems .................................. 193
Cruise control ............................... 193
Distronic* ..................................... 196
Active Body Control (ABC) ............ 207
Parktronic* (Parking assist) .......... 210
Useful features ................................... 214
Storage compartments ................. 214
Ashtray ......................................... 219
Cigarette lighter............................ 219
Heated steering wheel*
(SL 500, SL 600)........................... 220
Load assist in the trunk ................ 221
Electrical outlet............................. 222
Telephone* ................................... 222
Tele Aid......................................... 223
Garage door opener ...................... 231

23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature
gauge with:DCoolant tempera-
ture warning lamp
286
2
Speedometer with:;Brake warning
lamp, USA only
284
3Brake warning
lamp, Canada onlyvABS/ESP warning
lamp
282
EDistronic* indica-
tor lamp (white) or
warning lamp (red)
Vehicles without
Distronic*: Warning lamp
without function. It illumi-
nates when the ignition is
on. It should go out when
the engine is running.
287
Item
Page
KRight turn signal in-
dicator lampLLeft turn signal indi-
cator lamp
3
Left multifunction dis-
play with:

Trip odometer
125


Main odometer


Stored speed for
Distronic*
135
4
Reset button
5
Tachometer with:
125
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator
120
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
285
Item
Page
CRoll bar warning
lamp
288
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) indicator
lamp
283
1Supplemental re-
straint system indi-
cator lamp
289
289
6
Right multifunction
display with

Gear selector lever
position
158


Outside temperature
display
126


Program mode
161
7
Fuel gauge with:AFuel reserve warn-
ing lamp
287

26 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch
210
2
Active Body Control (ABC)
switch
207
3
Tow-away alarm switch
86
4
Hardtop open/close con-
trol with buttons for roll bar
184
69
5
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
38
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control switch
208
7
ESP control switch
79
8
Thumbwheel for setting
distance for Distronic*
203
9
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off switch
203
a
Program mode selector for
automatic transmission
163
b
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
158

31 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positionsStarter switch0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in position P.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the starter battery may
not be sufficiently charged.

Check the starter battery and
charge it if necessary (
page 358).


Get a jump start (
page 363).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge or a completely discharged bat-
tery, always remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch when the engine is
not in operation.

32 Getting startedUnlockingUnlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
If your vehicle is equipped with the
KEYLESS-GO function, your vehicle checks
whether the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
valid when you grasp the door handle. If
your SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is valid,
the doors will unlock and you can open
them.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the
KEYLESS-GO function.

Grasp the door handle.
The turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs on the doors move up.
The SBC brake system is activated.
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is inside
the vehicle, pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button on the gear selector le-
ver corresponds to turning the SmartKey
to the various starter switch positions.iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the
vehicle, no further than approx. 3 feet
(1 meter) away from the door.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

33 Getting started
Unlocking
1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have the status0 (as with
SmartKey removed).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.

Do not depress the brake pedal.Position 1

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton once.
This supplies power to some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or Position 2)

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton twice.
This supplies power to all electrical
consumers. All lamps in the instrument
cluster come on.
For more information, see “SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 93).
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*”
(
page 44).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button

once again, the ignition (position2)
is switched on


twice, the power supply is again
switched off
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once, the power sup-
ply is again switched off.

43 Getting started
Driving
Starting the engine Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionP Park position with gear selector lever
lock
R Reverse gear
N Neutral
D Drive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 155).Starting with the SmartKey

Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to P.

Do not depress the accelerator.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 and hold until the engine
starts (
page 31).

Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine
with the SmartKey, see “Turning off with
the SmartKey” (
page 53).
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive with at least one window
fully open.
iYou can also use the “touch-start”
function. Turn the SmartKey to
position3 and release it again immedi-
ately. The engine then starts automati-
cally.

44 Getting startedDrivingStarting with KEYLESS-GO*
You can start your vehicle without the
SmartKey in the starter switch using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the
gear selector lever.
1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to P.

Depress the brake pedal during the
starting procedure. Do not depress ac-
celerator.
The selector lever lock is released.

Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button1 once.
The engine starts automatically if the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in the
vehicle.
For information on turning off the engine
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 54).
Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:

If you are starting the engine with the
SmartKey: Turn SmartKey in starter
switch to position0 and repeat starting
procedure.

If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO*: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO.
Or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as
radio signals from another source may
be interfering with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.

Repeat the starting procedure
(page 43). Remember that extended
starting attempts can drain the battery.

Get a jump start (
page 363).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.