Page 368 of 434

367 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!
G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to the
front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adapt your driving style according-
ly. SBC brake system (
page 81).
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 105).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
iThe gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP and the SmartKey
will not turn in the starter switch if the
battery is disconnected or discharged.
See notes on the battery (
page 358)
or on jump starting (
page 363).
Page 380 of 434
379 Technical data
Rims and tires
Same size tires
17’’ tires
18’’ tires
SL 500*
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
Rims (light alloy)
81/2 J x 17
-
-
Wheel offset
1.38 in (35 mm)
-
-
Summer tires (radial-ply tires)
255/45 R17 98W
-
-
Winter tires (radial-ply tires)
255/45 R17 98V M+S
-
-
SL 500
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
Rims (light alloy)
81/2 J x 18
81/2 J x 18
81/2 J x 18
Wheel offset
1.38 in (35 mm)
1.38 in (35 mm)
1.18 in (30 mm)
Summer tires (radial-ply tires)
-
-
-
Winter tires (radial-ply tires)
255/40 R18 95V M+S
255/40 R18 95V M+S
255/40 R18 95V M+S
Page 381 of 434
380 Technical dataRims and tiresMixed size tires
SL 500
SL 500 (Sport Package*)
SL 600
SL 600 (Sport Package*)
Front axle:Rims (light alloy)
81/2 J x 18
81/2 J x 18
Wheel offset
1.38 in (35 mm)
1.38 in (35 mm)
Summer tires (radial-ply tires)
255/40 R18 95W
255/40 R18 95Y
Rear axle:Rims (light alloy)
91/2 J x 18
91/2 J x 18
Wheel offset
1.57 in (40 mm)
1.57 in (40 mm)
Summer tires (radial-ply tires)
285/35 R18 97W
1
1Must not be used with snow chains.
285/35 R18 97Y
1
Page 382 of 434
381 Technical data
Rims and tires
SL 55 AMG
Front axle:Rims (light alloy)
81/2 J x 18
Wheel offset
1.18 in (30 mm)
Summer tires (radial-ply tires)
255/40 R18 95W
or
255/40 R18 95Y
Rear axle:Rims (light alloy)
91/2 J x 18
Wheel offset
1.30 in (33 mm)
Summer tires (radial-ply tires)
285/35 R18 97W
1
or
285/35 R18 97Y
1
1Must not be used with snow chains.
Page 383 of 434
382 Technical dataRims and tiresSpare wheel
SL 500
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
Rim
6 B x 17
6 B x 18
6 B x 18
Wheel offset
0.98 in (25 mm)
0.98 in (25 mm)
0.98 in (25 mm)
Collapsible tire
185/60-17 93P
1
1Must not be used with snow chains.
175/55-18 91P
1
175/55-18 91P
1
iSL 55 AMG: May also be equipped with
TIREFIT (
page 339) in place of
collapsible tire.
Page 385 of 434
384 Technical dataMain dimensions
Main dimensionsModel
SL 500
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
Overall vehicle length
178.5 in (4 535 mm)
178.5 in (4 535 mm)
178.5 in (4 535 mm)
Overall vehicle length when opening/
closing hardtop
185.4 in (4 709 mm)
185.4 in (4 709 mm)
185.4 in (4 709 mm)
Overall vehicle width
71.9 in (1 827 mm)
71.9 in (1 827 mm)
71.9 in (1 827 mm)
Overall vehicle height
51.1 in (1 295 mm)
51.1 in (1 295 mm)
51.1 in (1 295 mm)
Overall vehicle height when opening/
closing hardtop
65.9 in (1 674 mm)
65.9 in (1 674 mm)
65.9 in (1 674 mm)
Wheelbase
100.8 in (2 560 mm)
100.8 in (2 560 mm)
100.8 in (2 560 mm)
Track, front
61.4 in (1 559 mm)
61.4 in (1 559 mm)
61.8 in (1 569 mm)
Track, rear
60.5 in (1 537 mm)
60.5 in (1 537 mm)
61.1 in (1 551 mm)
Page 387 of 434

386 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.CapacitiesVehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore use only
brands tested and approved by Mercedes Benz. Please refer to the Facto-
ry Approved Service Products pamphlet, or
inquire at your Mercedes-Benz Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine with oil filter
SL 500
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
7.9 US qt (7.5 l)
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
Approved engine oils
Automatic transmission
SL 500
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
9.5 US qt (9.0 l)
8.0 US qt (7.5 l)
9.1 US qt (8.6 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Oil
Rear axle
SL 500
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
1.5 US qt (1.4 l)
1.3 US qt (1.2 l)
1.5 US qt (1.4 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Hydraulic system for active body control (ABC)
approx. 4.3 US qt (4.0 l)
MB Hydraulic Fluid
Power steering
approx. 1.1 US qt (1.0 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid (Pentosin
CHF 11S)
Front wheel hubs
approx. 3.0 oz (85 g) each
High temperature roller bearing grease
Brake system
1.1 US qt (1.05 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)
Page 396 of 434

395 Technical data
Consumer information
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire’s resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tem-
perature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and ex-
cessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Warning!
G
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underin-
flation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause
excessive heat build-up and possible tire
failure.