Page 56 of 434

55 Getting started
Parking and locking
1Lock button on the door handle
After exiting the vehicle, press lock 
button1 on the door handle or on the 
trunk lid.
All turn signal lamps flash three times. 
The locking knobs on the doors move 
down.
For more information, see “Locking and 
unlocking” (
page 90).
Emergency engine shut-down
If the engine cannot be turned off as de-
scribed, you may use the following backup 
procedure.
Open the main fuse box (
page 369).
Pull out the two fuses labeled “ENGINE 
EMERGENCY STOP”.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always 
keep hands and fingers away from the door 
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are 
around.
Before closing doors, make sure that there 
is no possibility of someone getting caught 
in a door during closing.
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. 
     
        
        Page 277 of 434

276 OperationVehicle careEngine cleaning 
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment 
make sure to protect electrical compo-
nents and connectors from the intrusion of 
water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as MB Anticor-
rosion Wax, should be applied to the en-
gine compartment after every engine 
cleaning. Before applying, all control link-
age bushings and joints should be lubricat-
ed. The poly-V-belt and all pulleys should 
be protected from any wax.
Vehicle washing
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle 
in direct sunlight. Only use a mild car wash 
detergent, such as Mercedes-Benz ap-
proved Car Shampoo.
Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a dif-
fused jet of water. Direct only a very weak 
spray towards the ventilation intake. Use 
plenty of water and rinse the sponge and 
chamois frequently.Rinse with clear water and thoroughly dry 
with a chamois. Do not allow cleaning 
agents to dry on the finish.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in ex-
terior rear view mirrors prior to running the 
vehicle through an automatic car wash to 
prevent damage to the mirrors. 
In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces 
of road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the underbody, do not for-
get to clean the inner sides of the wheels.Ornamental moldings
For regular cleaning and care of very dirty 
chrome-plated parts, use a chrome clean-
er.
Headlamps, side markers, taillamps, 
turn signal lenses
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as 
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo, 
with plenty of water.
To prevent scratches, never apply strong 
force and only use a soft, non-scratchy 
cloth when cleaning the lenses. Do not at-
tempt to wipe dirty lenses with a dry cloth 
or sponge.
iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
If a door handle is hit by a strong jet of 
water, and a SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* is in close proximity, i.e. 
within approx 3 ft (approx. 1 m), the ve-
hicle could be inadvertently locked or 
unlocked. 
     
        
        Page 412 of 434

411 Index
Fuse chart 369
Fuse chart see Vehicle tool kit
Fuses 369
Fuse chart 369
Fuse extractor 369
Main fuse box 369
Spare fuses 369
G
Garage door opener 27, 231
Gasoline see Fuel
Gear range
Automatic transmission 157
Indicator 23
Limiting 157
Shifting into optimal 156
Gear range limit
Canceling 156
Gear selector lever 26
Cleaning 279
Lock 43, 401
Position 158
Position (automatic 
transmission) 155Glove box 21, 214
GPS 399
H
Hands-free microphone 27
Hard plastic trim items
Cleaning 279
Hardtop open/close control 26
Hardtop see Retractable hardtop
Hardtop switch 185
Hazard warning flasher 121
Hazard warning flasher switch 25
Headlamp switch-off delay see Delayed 
switch-off, exterior lamps
Headlamps
Automatic mode 118
Headlamp cleaning system 168, 261
Manual mode 118
Refilling washer fluid 261Headliner
Cleaning 279
Head-thorax airbag 72, 399
Heated steering wheel* 220
Height adjustment
Head restraints 36
Height adjustments
Vehicle level 208
High beam flasher 121
High beam headlamp indicator 23
High beam headlamps 47, 117, 332
Replacing bulbs 334
Switching on 121
Hood 253
Messages in display 309
Horn 21
Hydroplaning 243 
     
        
        Page 414 of 434

413 Index
Coolant 286
DTR* 198
Engine diagnostics 285
ESP 78
Fuel reserve 287
SBC 81
Seat belts 289
Service indicator 271
SRS 59, 289
Turn signals 23
Language
Multifunction display 141
Leather upholstery
Cleaning 280
License plate lamps 142, 332
Replacing bulbs 336
Light sensor 313
Lighter see Cigarette lighter
Lighting
Instruments 124
Interior 122
Settings (control system) 142
Trunk 123Limiting the gear range 157
Limp Home Mode 165
Load assist 221
Lowering manually 327
Lock buttons 30
Door handle (KEYLESS-GO*) 55
Trunk (KEYLESS-GO*) 98
Locking 51
Automatic while driving 105
Centrally from inside 105
Fuel filler flap 250
Global (SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*) 96
Global (SmartKey) 91
Storage compartments 216
Trunk separately 103
Vehicle in an emergency 327
Low beam headlamps 117, 332
Replacing bulbs 334
Lowering
Load assist manually 327
Roll bar 70
Luggage compartment, rear 218Luggage cover 185
Messages in display 322
Opening/closing 185
Lumbar support adjustment 108
M
Main fuse box 369
Maintenance 271
Malfunction memory 136
Calling up 136
Clearing 136
MANUAL
Shift program mode 
(SL 55 AMG Kompressor) 163
Manual operation
Interior lighting control 123
Locking the vehicle 327
Lowering load assist 327
Unlocking storage 
compartments 326
Unlocking the driver’s door 325
Unlocking the trunk 326
Massage function 110 
     
        
        Page 421 of 434

420 Index
Global locking 96
Global unlocking 96
Locking 98
Loss of 98
Messages in display 311
Reprogramming 96
Selective setting 96
Unlocking 32, 93
SmartKey with remote control 90
Snow chains 269
Spare fuses 369
Spare fuses see Vehicle tool kit
Spare parts service 372
Spare tire see Spare wheel 339
Spare wheel 323, 324, 350, 382
Inflating tire 354
Tire inflation pressure 354
Speed settings
Cruise control 195
Distronic* 202Speedometer 23
Setting units 141
Sporty driving style 208
SRS 401
Indicator lamp 289
Standing lamps 117, 332
Replacing bulbs 335
Standing water
Driving instructions 246
Starter battery 260, 358
Starter switch 21, 31
Starting difficulties 44
Starting position 31
Starting the engine
With the SmartKey 43
With the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* 44
Steering column
In/out adjustment 37
Length adjustment 37
Up/down adjustment 37Steering wheel
Adjusting 37
Buttons 24
Cleaning 279
Heating* 220
Height adjustment 37
Steering wheel adjustment lever 21
Stopping
Windows 183
Storage compartments 214
Armrest 215
Cup holder 214
Glove box 214
In door 215
In rear 216
Locking compartments 
separately 216
Locking storage compartments 216
Rear 216
Storage tray 216
Unlocking compartments 
separately 217