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.
107 Controls in detailSeats
Seats
For information on seat adjustment, see
“Seat adjustment” (
page 35).
Easy-entry / exit feature
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards and the
driver’s seat moves to the rear.
This allows easier entry into and exit from
the vehicle when the driver’s door is
opened. However, the engine must be
turned off.
When the SmartKey is inserted in the start-
er switch or you have pressed the
KEYLESS-GO* start / stop button once and
the driver’s door is closed, the steering
wheel and the driver’s seat return to their
last set positions.You can activate the following functions:
Steering column:
Only the steering column is adjusted.
Steering column and seat:
The steering column and the seat are
adjusted.
The easy-entry / exit feature can be
switched on or off in the convenience sub-
menu of the control system (
page 148).
Warning!
G
You must make sure that no one can be-
come trapped or injured by the moving
steering wheel and driver’s seat when the
easy-entry/exit feature is activated, the
driver’s door is being opened and the engine
is turned off or the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle. Children could
open the driver’s door an unintentionally ac-
tivate the easy-entry/exit feature*, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iTo cancel seat/steering wheel move-
ment, do one of the following:
Press the seat adjustment switch
(page 35)
Move the steering column stalk
(page 37)
Press the memory button
(page 114)
108 Controls in detailSeatsMoving the seats forward and backward
You can move the seats forward and back
to facilitate loading and unloading.The switch is located on the top side of the
seat.
1Seat forward
2Seat backward
Moving the seat forward
Press switch at1.
Moving the seat backward
Press switch at2.
Lumbar support
You can adjust the contour of the seat’s
lumbar support to best support your spine.
The thumbwheel is located on the lower
side of the seat.
1Thumb wheel
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
come on.
Set the lumbar support between 0
and 5.
Warning!
G
When moving the seats, be sure that no one
can be caught by them. Never place hands
under seat or near any moving parts during
a seat adjustment procedure. To stop the
seat from moving when potential danger ex-
ists:
press the switch again
move the seat adjustment switch on the
door (
page 34)
!When moving the seats, make sure that
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seats. Otherwise you could
damage the seats.
109 Controls in detailSeats
Multicontour backrest* (standard on SL 600 and SL 55 AMG)
The multicontour backrest has inflatable
air cushions built into the seat backrest to
provide additional lumbar and side sup-
port.
The seat backrest cushion height and cur-
vature can be continuously varied with
switches on the lower side of the seat
when the ignition is switched on.1Shoulder region support
2Side bolsters adjustment
3Massage function (PULSE)
4Lumbar region support
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
come on.
Shoulder region support
Press æ or ç on switch1.
The air cushion inflates or deflates.Lumbar region support
Press k or j on rocker
switch4.
This selects the air cushion you wish to
adjust.
Press æ or ç on rocker
switch4.
The air cushion inflates or deflates.
Side bolsters adjustment
Press switch2 to the right or left.
The lateral support increases or de-
creases.
148 Controls in detailControl systemConvenience submenu
Access the
Convenience
submenu via the
Settings
menu. Use the
Convenience
sub-
menu to change the settings for a number
of convenience features. The following
functions are available:
Activating easy-entry/exit feature
Use this function to activate and deacti-
vate the easy-entry/exit feature. When the
feature is activated, the steering wheel and
driver’s seat will move back to facilitate ex-
iting the vehicle when you
remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
open the driver’s doorAfter entering the vehicle, the steering
wheel and seat will move into the position
stored in memory when
the driver’s door is closed
you insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button and
press and hold the appropriate stored
position button on the memory switch
(page 114)
Move the selection marker with button
æ or ç to the
Convenience
sub-
menu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
display:
Easy-entry feature Acti-
vate
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Function
Page
Activate easy-entry/exit fea-
ture
148
Set key-dependency
149
Set parking position for exterior
rear view mirror
149
Warning!
G
You must make sure that no one can be-
come trapped or injured by the moving
steering wheel and the driver’s seat when
the easy-entry / exit feature is in operation
and the driver’s door is being opened or the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iTo cancel seat/steering wheel move-
ment, press one of the following:
the seat adjustment switch
(page 34)
the steering column switch
(page 37)
the memory switch (
page 114)
404 IndexAir conditioning (cooling)
Turning off 179
Turning on 179
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air pump, electric 324
Turning on 355
Air recirculation mode 175
Air volume adjustment 173
AIRBAG OFF
Warning lamp 290
Airbags 59
Children 60
Front 64
Head-thorax 64, 65
Kneebag 64
Passenger 64
Alarm
Audible 74, 85
Canceling 86
Visual 85
Alignment bolt 397
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 353Anticorrosion/antifreeze 387, 392
Anti-theft alarm system 85
Arming 85
Canceling the alarm 86
Disarming 86
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft alarm system 84
Tow-away alarm 86
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest
Storage compartment 215
Ashtray 25, 219
At the gas station 250
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 258
Automatic climate control 25, 170
Center air vents 25
Deactivating 179
Residual heat utilization 178
Side air vents 25
Temperature sensor 27Automatic transmission 155
Accelerator position 162
Comfort program mode 161
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 165
Gear range 157
Gear selector lever 26
Gear selector lever position 155, 158
Gear shifting malfunctions 165
Kickdown 162
Manual shift program mode
(SL 55 AMG Kompressor) 163
Manual shifting 156
One-touch gearshifting 156
Program mode selector switch 26,
161
Transmission fluid 258
B
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 72, 397
BabySmartTM compatible child
seats 397
410 IndexEngine oil 255, 388
Adding 257
Additives 388
Checking level 255
Consumption 255
Display messages 307
Filler neck 257
Messages in display 256
Engine oil level see Oil level
ESP 75, 78, 398
Control switch 26
Switching off 79
Switching on 80
Synchronizing 295
Warning lamp 78
ESP/ABS warning lamp 23
ETD see Emergency Tensioning Device
Express-close front side windows 182
Express-open front side windows 182F
Fahrenheit
Setting temperature units 140
Fastening the seat belts 40
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 195
First aid kit 323
Flat tire 339
Spare wheel 350
TIREFIT kit 340, 345
Flexible Service System (FSS) 271
Fluid level 258
Fog lamp, rear 120, 332
Replacing bulb 335
Fog lamps, front 120
Replacing bulbs 332
Front airbags 64
Front lamps 332
Replacing bulbs 334
FSS (Flexible Service System) 271, 399Fuel 250
Additives 390
Fuel reserve warning lamp 23, 287
Gasoline additives 390
Premium unleaded gasoline 251,
387, 389
Requirements 389
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 150
Since reset 151
Fuel filler flap 250
Locking 250
Opening 250
Unlocking 250
Fuel requirements 389
Fuel reserve tank
Message in display 309
Fuel tank
Filler flap 250
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. -
capacities 386
Functions (control system) 128
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