2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG display

Contents
Control system .................................. 127
Multifunction display .................... 127
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 128
Menus .......................................... 130
Standard display menu ................ 132
AUDIO menu ................................ 132
NAVI menu ................................... 134
Distronic* menu........................... 135
Malfunction memory menu .......... 136
Settings menu .............................. 137
Trip computer menu..................... 150
TEL menu* ................................... 152
Automatic transmission ..................... 155
One-touch gearshifting................. 156
Gear ranges ................................. 157
Gear selector lever position ......... 158
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) SL 55 AMG ............... 160
Program mode selector switch..... 161
Accelerator position ..................... 162
Manual shift program SL 55 AMG 163
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 165Good visibility ..................................... 166
Rear view mirrors .......................... 166
Windshield wipers ......................... 168
Headlamp cleaning system ........... 168
Rear window defroster .................. 169
Sun visors ..................................... 169
Automatic climate control .................. 170
Setting the temperature................ 172
Adjusting air volume ..................... 173
Adjusting air distribution............... 174
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 174
Defrosting ..................................... 175
Air recirculation mode .................. 175
Rear window defroster .................. 177
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 178
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 179
Air conditioning............................. 179
Ventilated storage compartments. 180
Power windows .................................. 181
Opening and closing the windows. 181
Synchronizing power windows ...... 183Retractable hardtop ........................... 184
Opening and closing the
retractable hardtop ....................... 184
Driving systems .................................. 193
Cruise control ............................... 193
Distronic* ..................................... 196
Active Body Control (ABC) ............ 207
Parktronic* (Parking assist) .......... 210
Useful features ................................... 214
Storage compartments ................. 214
Ashtray ......................................... 219
Cigarette lighter............................ 219
Heated steering wheel*
(SL 500, SL 600)........................... 220
Load assist in the trunk ................ 221
Electrical outlet............................. 222
Telephone* ................................... 222
Tele Aid......................................... 223
Garage door opener ...................... 231

Contents
Practical hints................................. 281
What to do if … .................................. 282
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 282
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp ......... 290
Messages in the display ............... 291
Where will I find ...? ........................... 323
First aid kit ................................... 323
Vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare
wheel ........................................... 323
Locking/unlocking in an emergency . 325
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 325
Locking the vehicle ...................... 327
Lowering the load assist manually 327
Replacing batteries in the
SmartKey/SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* .............................. 328
Replacing bulbs ................................. 331
Bulbs ............................................ 331
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 334
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 335Replacing wiper blades....................... 337
Removing wiper blades ................. 337
Installing wiper blades .................. 338
Flat tire ............................................... 339
Preparing the vehicle .................... 339
Sealing tires with TIREFIT kit 1...... 340
Sealing tires with TIREFIT kit 2...... 345
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 350
Batteries ............................................. 358
Disconnecting the batteries .......... 360
Removing the batteries ................. 361
Charging and reinstalling
batteries ....................................... 361
Reconnecting the batteries ........... 361
Jump starting ...................................... 363
Towing the vehicle .............................. 365
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 368
Fuses .................................................. 369
Main fuse box ............................... 369
Technical data.................................. 371
Spare parts service ............................ 372
Warranty coverage ............................. 373
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 373
Identification labels ............................ 374
Layout of poly-V-belt drive.................. 375
SL 500 .......................................... 375
SL 55 AMG ................................... 375
SL 600 .......................................... 375
Engine ................................................ 376
Rims and tires .................................... 378
Same size tires ............................. 379
Mixed size tires ............................. 380
Spare wheel .................................. 382
Electrical system ................................ 383
Main dimensions ................................ 384
Weights .............................................. 385

15 Introduction
Symbols
Symbols
The following symbols are found in this
Operator’s Manual:
* Optional equipment is identified
with an asterisk. Since standard
equipment varies between models,
the descriptions and illustrations in
this manual may differ slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehi-
cle.

This symbol points to instructions for
you to follow.

A number of these symbols appearing
in succession indicates a multiple-step
procedure.
 Page This symbol tells you where to
look for further information on a
topic.
This continuation symbol marks
an interrupted procedure which
will be continued on the next
page.
-> In the glossary of technical
terms, this symbol is used to in-
dicate cross-references to term
definitions.
Display
Words appearing in the multi-
function display are printed in
the type shown here.
Warning!
G
Warning notices draw your attention to haz-
ards that may endanger your health or life,
or the health or life of others.!Highlights hazards that may result in
damage to your vehicle.iHelpful hints or further information you
may find useful.

23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature
gauge with:DCoolant tempera-
ture warning lamp
286
2
Speedometer with:;Brake warning
lamp, USA only
284
3Brake warning
lamp, Canada onlyvABS/ESP warning
lamp
282
EDistronic* indica-
tor lamp (white) or
warning lamp (red)
Vehicles without
Distronic*: Warning lamp
without function. It illumi-
nates when the ignition is
on. It should go out when
the engine is running.
287
Item
Page
KRight turn signal in-
dicator lampLLeft turn signal indi-
cator lamp
3
Left multifunction dis-
play with:

Trip odometer
125


Main odometer


Stored speed for
Distronic*
135
4
Reset button
5
Tachometer with:
125
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator
120
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
285
Item
Page
CRoll bar warning
lamp
288
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) indicator
lamp
283
1Supplemental re-
straint system indi-
cator lamp
289
289
6
Right multifunction
display with

Gear selector lever
position
158


Outside temperature
display
126


Program mode
161
7
Fuel gauge with:AFuel reserve warn-
ing lamp
287

24 At a glanceMultifunction steering wheel
Multifunction steering wheel
Item
Page
1
Left multifunction display
in speedometer
127
2
Right multifunction display
in tachometer
127
Operating control sys-
tem
128
3
Selecting the submenu or
setting the volumeçdown / to decreaseæup / to increase
4
Telephone*: press buttoníto take a callìto end a call
Item
Page
5
Menu systems: Press but-
tonèfor next systemÿfor previous system
6
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display

37 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheel Steering wheel adjustment
The stalk for steering wheel adjustment is
located on the lower left of the steering
column.
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down

Switch on ignition
or

Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out

Move stalk forward or back in the direc-
tion of arrow1 until a comfortable
steering wheel position is reached with
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down

Move stalk up or down in the direction
of arrow2.
Make sure your legs can move freely
and that you have a good view on all
the displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument
cluster.
For more information, see “Heated steer-
ing wheel* (SL 500, SL 600)”
(
page 220).
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
* with you and
lock your vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the steering wheel adjustment feature can
be operated when the driver’s door is open.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iThe memory function (
page 114) lets
you store the setting for the steering
wheel together with the settings for the
seat position and the rear view mirrors.

69 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Roll barThe roll bar raises automatically in an acci-
dent or in a critical driving situation. You
can also raise and lower the roll bar manu-
ally using the buttons provided.
The buttons for the roll bar are on the cen-
ter console under the roof switch.
1Lower roll bar
2Raise roll bar
The roll bar can be moved manually when
the ignition is switched on.Raising the roll bar

Lift the switch for the retractable hard-
top.

Press and hold button2 until the roll
bar is raised.
Warning!
G
This vehicle is a two occupant vehicle. The
rear storage area is not intended for use by
occupants and is not equipped for properly
seating or restraining occupants. Thus this
area should never be used by any persons.
Before operating the roll bar switch make
sure that the roll bar’s path is clear and no
persons are injured by the moving roll bar
due to inattention. Raising or lowering of the
roll bar could injure someone inadvertently
occupying the rear storage area.
For your own safety, we recommend to drive
with the roll bar raised if the outside temper-
ature is below +5°F (-15°C).!If the outside temperature falls below
+5°F (-15°C), the roll bar must be
raised manually using the buttons pro-
vided to avoid damaging the hydraulics.
iWhen the roll bar is raised automatical-
ly, you will hear a ratcheting sound.
Warning!
G
If the roll bar warning light

in the ta-
chometer remains lit after starting the en-
gine, there is a malfunction. In the display
you see the message
Raise the
roll-over bar
.
For safety reasons, drive only with the roll
bar upright until the malfunction is repaired.
Have your vehicle checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

81 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
SBC brake system
The SBC brake system combines a hydrau-
lic brake circuit with electronically con-
trolled brake servo assistance. You have
increased braking safety and improved
braking comfort.Warning!
G
Never ignore a brake malfunction indicated
in the speedometer display, for example by
the
;
(USA only) or
3
(Canada only)
indicator lamp. Refer to the “Practical hints”
section (
page 284). Also read and ob-
serve the messages in the instrument clus-
ter multifunction display (
page 299).
Warning!
G
The SBC 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. In such a case, the
red brake warning lamp (
page 284)
comes on and warning messages
(
page 299) appear in the multifunction
display while driving. 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!
If there is a malfunction in the SBC brake
system, we recommend that the vehicle be
transported with all wheels off the ground
using flatbed or appropriate wheel lift/dolly
equipment.
A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, see “Towing the vehicle”
(page 365).