2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 warning

187 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Locking the retractable hardtop after
raising/lowering
If the retractable hardtop is not properly
locked, lock it as described below.Unlocked status noticed when stopped

Switch on ignition.

To lock the hardtop in its fully closed
position, press hardtop switch forward.
The message
+
Vario-Roof Closed
appears in
the multifunction display.
or:

To lock the hardtop in its fully opened
position, pull up on the hardtop switch.
The message K
Vario-Roof Open

appears in the multifunction display.
Unlocked status noticed while driving

Stop the vehicle.

Leave the ignition switched on.

To lock the hardtop in its fully closed
position, press hardtop switch forward.
The message
+
Vario-Roof Closed
appears in
the multifunction display.
or:

To lock the hardtop in its fully opened
position, pull up on the hardtop switch.
The message K
Vario-Roof Open

appears in the multifunction display.
Warning!
G
The hardtop is not fully closed and locked or
not fully opened and locked if:

the indicator light in the hardtop switch
remains lit


the message
K
in operation!
is
shown in the multifunction display and
the indicator lamp in the hardtop switch
does not go out


the indicator lamp flashes and a warning
sounds for 10 seconds and the message K
Lock Vario-Roof
is shown in
the multifunction display when starting
to drive
Warning!
G
Stop the vehicle and lock the hardtop before
continuing to drive. You could otherwise en-
danger yourself and others.

188 Controls in detailRetractable hardtop
Opening the retractable hardtop with
the SmartKey (Summer opening
feature)

Aim the transmitter eye at the door
handle.

Press and hold button Πuntil the
retractable hardtop is completely
open.
The seat ventilation for the driver’s seat
switches on. The rear side windows
open. In the tachometer display you
will see the message
Vario-Roof open
.

Release button Πto interrupt pro-
cedure.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close, the roof hydraulics will
lose pressure and the retractable hardtop is
lowered

after approximately seven minutes
when the ignition is switched on


after approximately 15 seconds when
the ignition is switched off
Shortly before the hardtop is lowered, a
warning will sound and the hardtop switch
lamp will flash. In the speedometer display
you will see
K
, in the tachometer display
you will see the message
being lowered!


Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 187) before continuing to drive.
Warning!
G
Before operating the switch for the retract-
able hardtop make sure that no persons can
be injured by the moving parts (retractable
roof, roof frame, and trunk lid) due to inat-
tention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, hardtop, shelf
behind roll bars, or trunk lid while the re-
tractable hardtop is being raised or lowered.
Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
spective button on the SmartKey. This im-
mediately interrupts the raising or lowering
procedure. You then can operate
Œ
or
‹
to raise or lower the hardtop away
from the danger zone.

189 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Closing the retractable hardtop with
the SmartKey (Convenience feature)
Aim the transmitter eye at the door
handle.

Press and hold button ‹ until the
retractable hardtop is completely
closed.
The retractable hardtop and the side
windows close. In the tachometer dis-
play you will see the message Vario-Roof closed
.Problems when operating the
retractable hardtop
Indicator lamp in the retractable hard-
top switch is flashing
Several problems may cause the indicator
lamp in the hardtop switch to flash when
activated:


The luggage cover in the trunk is not
closed.
Close the luggage cover in the
trunk.


The trunk lid is open.
Close the trunk lid.


The battery voltage is too low.
Start engine and let run while acti-
vating switch.


The hardtop drive system has shut it-
self down. For safety reasons, no more
than five consecutive attempts may be
made to raise or lower the hardtop.
After about ten minutes you may
again attempt to open or close the
retractable hardtop again.
If the indicator lamp in the retractable
hardtop switch flashes when starting off or
while driving and you hear a warning sound
for a maximum of 10 seconds, the retract-
able hardtop is not locked.

Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 187) before continuing to
drive.
If the indicator lamp continues to flash af-
ter you have carried out the above actions,
there is a malfunction.

Have the retractable hardtop system
checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close a warning sounds and
the retractable hardtop switch flashes. In
the speedometer display you will see
K
,
in the tachometer display you will see the
message
being lowered!
. After about
15 seconds the roof hydraulics lose pres-
sure.
Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(
page 187) before continuing to drive.

190 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopIndicator lamp in the retractable hard-
top switch lights when vehicle is
stopped
If the indicator lamp in the retractable
hardtop switch lights while the vehicle is
standing still and the switch was not acti-
vated, then the retractable hardtop is not
locked.
Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 187) before continuing to
drive.
The retractable hardtop will not lock
There is a malfunction in the retractable
hardtop system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.Wind screen
The wind screen deflects drafts away from
the driver and passenger when the hardtop
is lowered. It is stored in a separate stor-
age bag.
Installing

Leave the wind screen folded and place
it on the roll bar.1Guide tabs

Slide the wind screen into the roll bar
until the guide taps on each side latch
underneath the roll bar. Make sure the
fastening straps do not get caught.

Raise the roll bar slightly (
page 69).
Warning!
G
The wind screen can restrict the driver’s vi-
sion to the rear of the vehicle. To prevent a
possible accident when visibility is limited
(e.g. in darkness), the upper part of the wind
screen should be folded back.

191 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
2Buckle
Guide the fastening straps around the
top of the roll bar and close buckles 2.

Tighten the fastening straps if neces-
sary.

Lower the roll bar.

Fold the upper section of the wind
screen up towards the head restraints
until it stops.Removing

Fold the upper section of the wind
screen back down.

Raise the roll bar slightly (
page 69).
1Release button

Undo the buckles on the upper section
of the roll bar by pressing release
button1.

Lower the roll bar. Make sure the fas-
tening straps do not get caught.

Pull the wind screen out towards the
front of the vehicle. Be careful not to
damage interior trim with the guide
tabs.

Place the wind screen back into the
bag.
Sunshade for panorama roof*
The sunshade protects you from excessive
sunlight coming in through the panorama
roof.Warning!
G
Do not operate the sunshade while driving.
Adjusting the sunshade while driving could
cause the driver to lose control of the vehi-
cle.

193 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed


ABC with vehicle level control systems,
with which you can change vehicle sus-
pension characteristics


Parktronic*, which assists the driver
during parking maneuvers
For information on the BAS, ABS, and ESP,
see “Driving safety systems” (
page 75).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed over 20 mph
(30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column (
page 20).
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always re-
main responsible for the vehicle speed and
for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road,
traffic, and weather conditions make it ad-
visable to travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

195 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever to
position1 and hold it up until the de-
sired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever to
position2 and hold it down until the
desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow1.
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2.Setting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function)

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position4.
The cruise control will resume the last
previously set speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate the cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing), the
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the vehi-
cle sufficiently.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you and others.

196 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases the driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
during travel on expressways and other
major roads.

If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at a preset
distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as cruise control (
page 193).
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is no sub-
stitute for active driving involvement. It does
not react to stationary objects, nor recog-
nize or predict the curvature and lane layout
or the movement of vehicles ahead. Distron-
ic can only apply a maximum of 20% of the
vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to road, weather and traffic con-
ditions and to provide the steering, braking
and other driving inputs necessary to retain
control of the vehicle.Warning!
G
Distronic is a convenience system, its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. It is not
however, intended to, nor does it, replace
the need for extreme care. The responsibili-
ty for the vehicle speed and the distance to
the vehicle ahead, including most impor-
tantly brake operation to assure safe stop-
ping distance, always rests with the driver.
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account.
Warning!
G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.iFor operation in the USA only: This de-
vice complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:

This device may not cause harmful
interference.
and


This device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.