Page 6 of 434

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
Page 29 of 434
28 At a glanceDoor control panel
Door control panel
Item
Page
1
Door handle
99
2
Switches for open-
ing/closing front and rear
side windows
181
3
Memory function (for stor-
ing seat, mirror and steer-
ing wheel settings)
114
4
Seat heating switch
110
Seat ventilation* switch
112
5
Seat adjustment switch
34,
107
6
Remote trunk lid release
switch
102
7
Door pocket
215
Page 31 of 434

30 Getting startedUnlocking
The “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 provide you with further
information. The corresponding page refer-
ences are located at the end of each seg-
ment.
Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button for trunk lid
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button
Press unlock button Œ on the
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The SBC brake system is activated.
Enter the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 90).
iOpening a door causes the windows on
that side of the car to open slightly.
They will return to the up-position when
the door is closed.
Page 90 of 434
89 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
Automatic climate control
Power windows
Retractable hardtop
Driving systems
Useful features
Page 92 of 434

91 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Factory setting
Global unlocking
Press button Œ.
All turn signals flash once. The locking
knobs in the doors move up.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if:
neither door nor trunk is opened
the SmartKey is not inserted in the
starter switch
the central locking switch is not acti-
vated
Global locking
Press button ‹.
All turn signals flash three times. The lock-
ing knobs in the doors move down.Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey so that
pressingŒ only unlocks the driver’s
door, interior lockable storage compart-
ments and the fuel filler flap.
Press and hold buttons Œ and ‹
simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp5 flashes
twice.
The SmartKey will then function as fol-
lows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler flap
Press button Œ once.
Global unlocking
Press button Œ twice.
Global locking
Press button ‹.
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. It is possible for children
to open a locked door from the inside, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
injury.
!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the SmartKey to high levels of
electromagnetic radiation.iYou can also open and close the power
windows (
page 181) and the retract-
able hardtop using the SmartKey
(
page 188).
Page 95 of 434

94 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Important notes on using KEYLESS-GO
You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey
(page 90).
You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal SmartKey functions
(e.g. unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and
locking with the remote control).
Always carry the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.
Never store the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO together with:
Electronic items such as a cellular
phone or another SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO
Metallic objects such as coins or
metal foil
Doing so could impair the function of
the KEYLESS-GO system.
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.!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO to high levels of electro-
magnetic radiation.
iYou can also close the power windows
(page 181) and the retractable hard-
top using the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO (
page 188).
iIf the vehicle has been parked for a
longer period of time, you must pull the
door handle in order to activate the
KEYLESS-GO function.
When you unlock the vehicle, the SBC
brake system is activated.
Page 100 of 434

99 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening 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.
1Locking knob
2Inside door handle
Pull on door handle2.
If door was locked, locking knob1 will
move up.
Opening the trunk
Opening the trunk from the outside
A minimum height clearance of
6.2 ft (1.88 m) is required to open the
trunk lid.
The handle is located above the rear li-
cense plate recess.
1Handle
Pull on handle 1 and lift the trunk lid.
iIf you open a door, the side windows on
that side of the vehicle will lower slight-
ly. The windows close again when you
close the door.iIf the vehicle has previously been
locked from the outside with the
SmartKey, opening a door from the in-
side will trigger the anti-theft alarm sys-
tem.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the fol-
lowing:
Press button Œ or ‹on the
SmartKey.
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 44).
Grasp the outside door handle (ve-
hicles with KEYLESS-GO* only)
Page 170 of 434
169 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Rear window defroster
For information, see “Rear window defrost-
er” (
page 177).
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
Swing sun visors down when you expe-
rience glare.1Mounting
2Mirror cover
3Mirror lamp
4Holder for gas cards
To use mirror, lift up cover2.
Warning!
G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and others.
iIf sunlight enters through a side win-
dow, disengage sun visor from
mounting1 and pivot to the side.
The mirror lamp3 will switch off.