2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 system adjustments

60 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety

Adjust the driver seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper opera-
tion of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the airbag cover on
the steering wheel must be at least ten
inches (25 cm) or more. You should be
able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.


Do not lean with your head or chest
close to the steering wheel or dash-
board.


Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand / arm injury
when driver front airbag inflates.


Adjust the passenger seat as far as pos-
sible rearward from the dashboard when
the seat is occupied.


Occupants, especially children, should
never lean their heads in the area of the
door where the head-thorax airbag in-
flates. This could result in serious inju-
ries or death should the airbag be
triggered. Always sit nearly upright,
properly use the seat belts and appropri-
ate size infant or child restraint system.


Children 12 years old and under must
never ride in this vehicle, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM1
compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM
system installed in the vehicle to deacti-
vate the passenger front airbag when it
is properly installed. Otherwise they will
be struck by the airbag when it inflates
in a crash. If this happens, serious or fa-
tal injury will result.
1BabySmart
TM
is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injuries to you or other occu-
pants.
If you sell your vehicle, it is extremely impor-
tant that you make the buyer aware of this
safety information. Be sure to give the buyer
this Operator's Manual.


208 Controls in detailDriving systemsSuspension for sporty driving style
The setting for sporty driving is selected
when indicator lamp2 is illuminated.
Press switch1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
Suspension for regular driving style
The setting for regular driving is selected
when the indicator lamp2 is off.

Press switch1.
Indicator lamp2 goes out.Vehicle level control
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to:


reduce fuel consumption


increase vehicle safety
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:


With increasing speed, ride height is re-
duced by up to approximately one inch
(25 mm).


With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the selected vehicle
level.Select the level 1 and 2 settings only when
required by current driving conditions.
Otherwise:


Fuel consumption may increase.


Handling may be impaired.iThese height adjustments are so small
that you may not notice any change.Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands
and feet away from wheel housing area, and
stay away from under the vehicle when low-
ering the vehicle chassis.

248 OperationDriving instructions
Emission control
Certain systems of the engine serve to
keep the toxic components of the exhaust
gases within permissible limits required by
law.
These systems, of course, will function
properly only when maintained strictly ac-
cording to factory specifications. Any ad-
justments on the engine should therefore
be carried out only by qualified
Mercedes-Benz Center authorized techni-
cians. Engine adjustments should not be
altered in any way. Moreover, the specified
service jobs must be carried out regularly
according to Mercedes-Benz servicing re-
quirements. For details refer to the Service
Booklet.
Warning!
G
As with any vehicle, do not idle, park or op-
erate this vehicle in areas where combusti-
ble materials such as grass, hay or leaves
can come into contact with the hot exhaust
system, as these materials could be ignited
and cause a vehicle fire.
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 only with at least one win-
dow fully open at all times.

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