Page 123 of 434
122 Controls in detailLightingInterior lighting
1Left reading lamp
2Right reading lamp
3Interior lighting on/off
4Slide switch for interior lighting controlAutomatic control
Activating
Slide switch4 to the left.
Interior lamps are switched on in dark-
ness when you
unlock the vehicle
open a door
remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
open the trunk
In addition, the entry/exit lamps in the
door trays will come on when you open
a door.
The interior lamps are switched off af-
ter a preset time (
page 145).Deactivating
Slide switch4 to the right.
The interior lighting and the entry/exit
lamps remain switched off in darkness,
even when you
unlock the vehicle
open a door
remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
open the trunk
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lamps switch off automatically after ap-
proximately five minutes.
Page 125 of 434
124 Controls in detailInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterFor a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(page 22).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you
open a door
switch on the ignition
press the reset button (
page 22)
switch on the exterior lamps
Opening a door will activate the instrument
cluster only for about 30 seconds.
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the Instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 140).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster
and the switches on the center console.
To brighten illumination
Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster (
page 22) clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster (
page 22) counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Coolant temperature gauge
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened to suit ambient
light conditions.
Warning
G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns an can occur just by
opening the hood. Stay away from the
engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
Page 126 of 434
125 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer display (
page 127).
If it is not displayed, press the j or
k button on the multifunction
steering wheel repeatedly until the trip
odometer appears.
Press and hold reset button4
(page 22) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
SL 55 AMG
The tachometer of the SL 55 AMG does not
have a red marking denoting excessive en-
gine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated at
an excessive speed.
!Excessive coolant temperature triggers
the coolant temperature warning lamp
(page 304) and a warning in the
multifunction display (
page 286).
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Page 132 of 434
131 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu 1
Menu 2
Menu 3
Menu 4
Menu 5
Menu 6
Menu 7
Menu 8
Standard dis-
play
AUDIO
NAVI
Distronic*
Malfunction
memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone
Commands/submenusDigital speed-
ometer
Select radio
station
Activate
route guid-
ance
Call up set-
tings
Call up malfunc-
tion messages
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consump-
tion statistics af-
ter start
Load phone
book
Call up FSS
Select satel-
lite radio sta-
tion*
(USA only)
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consump-
tion statistics
since the last re-
set
Search for
name in
phone book
Check tire
pressure*
Operate CD
player
Lighting sub-
menu
Call up range
Check engine
oil level
Vehicle sub-
menuConvenience
submenu
Page 134 of 434
133 Controls in detail
Control system
Select radio station
Turn on the radio. Refer to the separate
operating instructions.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the right display.
1Station frequency
2Waveband setting
3Setting for station selection using
memory
Press button k or j repeatedly
until the desired station is found.
The type of search depends on the set-
ting for the station tuning
(page 146):
Memory: the next stored station is
selected (SP)
Station searchSelect satellite radio station*
(USA only)
The satellite radio is treated as a radio ap-
plication.
Select satellite radio with the corre-
sponding key on the COMAND control
panel (SAT).
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the right display.
1SAT mode and preset number
2Setting for station selection using
memory
3Channel name or number
Press button k or j repeatedly
until the desired channel is found.
iYou can only store new stations using
the designated feature on the radio.
Refer to the separate operating instruc-
tions.
You can also operate the radio in the
usual manner.
Page 136 of 434
135 Controls in detail
Control system
Distronic* menu
Use the Distronic menu to display the cur-
rent settings for your Distronic system.
What information is shown in the left dis-
play field depends on whether the Distron-
ic system is active or inactive.
Please refer to the “Driving systems” sec-
tion of this manual (
page 196) for in-
structions on how to activate Distronic.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following two
pictures in the display.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated you will see
the standard display in the left display
field.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle
ahead
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning
functionDistronic activated
When Distronic is activated the DTR sym-
bol and the set speed are seen in the left
display.
1Symbol for activated Distronic
2Set speed
Page 138 of 434
137 Controls in detail
Control system
Settings menu
In the
Settings
menu there are two func-
tions:
The function
Reset
, with which you can
reset all the settings to those set at the
factory.
A collection of submenus with which
you can make individual settings for
your vehicle.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings...
menu appears in
the left display.The following settings and submenus are
available:Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all sub-
menus to the factory settings.
Press the reset button in the instru-
ment cluster for approximately three
seconds.
In the right display you will see the re-
quest to press the reset button again to
confirm.
Press the reset button again.
The functions of all the submenus will
reset to factory settings.
Function
Page
Resetting all settings
137
Submenus in the Settings menu
138
Resetting the functions of a sub-
menu
138
Instrument cluster submenu
140
Lighting submenu
142
Vehicle submenu
145
Convenience submenu
148
iThe settings you have changed will not
be reset unless you confirm the action
by pressing the reset button a second
time.
Page 139 of 434
138 Controls in detailControl systemSubmenus in the Settings menu
Press button k or j.
In the right display you see the collec-
tion of submenus.
Press button ç.
The selection marker moves to the next
submenu.
The submenus are arranged by hierarchy.
Scroll down with the ç button, scroll up
with the æ button.
Move within the submenus with the k
or j button to the individual functions.
The settings themselves are made with
button æ or ç.Resetting the functions of a submenu
For each submenu you can reset all the
functions to the factory settings.
Move to a function in the submenu.
Press the reset button in the instru-
ment cluster for approximately three
seconds.
In the right display you will see the re-
quest to press the reset button again to
confirm.
Press the reset button again.
All functions of the submenu will reset
to factory settings.
