Page 316 of 434
315 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Tail lamp
Right
Back-up
lamp on!
The right tail lamp is malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb has been
brought into use.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Turn signal
Rear left
Back-up
lamp on!
The left rear turn signal lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.
Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal
Rear right
Back-up
lamp on!
The right rear turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.
Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal
Front left
Back-up
lamp on!
The left front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.
Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal
Front right
Back-up
lamp on!
The right front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.
Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Visit workshop!
The display for the lights is malfunc-
tioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Page 332 of 434
331 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs
Bulbs
Safe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp as-
semblies are in good working order at all
times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp ad-
justment.
iIf the headlamps are fogged up on the
inside as a result of high humidity, driv-
ing the vehicle a distance should clear
up the fogging.
iBackup bulbs will be brought into use
when the following lamps malfunction:
Turn signal lamps
Brake lamps
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
Page 333 of 434
332 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsFront lamps Rear lamps
Lamp
Type
1
Additional turn
signal
LED
2
Turn signal lamp
1156 NA
3
Low beam
1
1Vehicles with Bi-Xenon* headlamps: Low beam
and high beam use the same D2S-35W lamp. Do
not replace the Xenon and Bi-Xenon* bulbs your-
self. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Xenon D2S-35 W
4
Xenon head-
lamps:
High beam, high
beam flasher
H7 (55 W)
Bi-Xenon* head-
lamps:
High beam
flasher
H7 (55 W)
Parking and
standing lamps
W 5 W
5
Fog lamp
HB4/9006 (55 W)
6
Side marker
lamp
W 5 W
Lamp
Type
7
Rear fog lamp,
driver’s side;
replacement
P 21 W
1156/32 cp
8
High mounted
brake lamp
LED
9
Backup lamp;
replacement
P 21 W
1156/32 cp
a
Tail, parking and
standing lamp,
side marker
LED
b
Tail, parking and
standing lamp,
brake lamp
LED
c
License plate
lamps
C 5 W
d
Turn signal
lamp;
replacement
P 21 W
1156/32 cp
Page 334 of 434
333 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Notes on bulb replacement
Only use 12 volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.
Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.
Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.
Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.
If the newly installed bulb does not
come on, visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.Have the LEDs and bulbs for the following
lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center:
the additional turn signals in the exteri-
or rear view mirrors
the high mounted brake lamp
the brake lamps
the parking lamps and the side marker
lamps in the tail lamp assemblies
the rear fog lamps
the low beam (Xenon or Bi-Xenon*)
lamps
the front fog lamps
Warning!
G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:
touch or move it when hot,
drop the bulb,
scratch the bulb.
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
Page 335 of 434
334 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsReplacing bulbs for front lamps
1Bulb socket for turn signal lamp
2Low beam lamp cover (Xenon or
Bi-Xenon* lamp). Do not remove.
3High beam lamp coverReplacing front turn signal bulb
Switch off the lights.
Open the hood (
page 253).
Twist bulb socket 1 counterclockwise
and pull out.
Push bulb into socket, turn counter-
clockwise and remove.
Insert new bulb in socket, push and
twist clockwise.
Reinsert bulb socket in lamp and twist
clockwise.Replacing high beam bulbs
1High beam bulbs
2Locking mechanism
3Parking and standing lamps
Switch off the lights.
Open the hood (
page 253).
Press ends of headlamp cover tab to-
gether and remove cover.
Pull electrical connector off.
Turn locking mechanism 2 counter-
clockwise and take out the bulb.
Insert the new bulb so that the base lo-
cates in the recess on the holder.
Warning!
G
Do not remove the cover for the Xenon or
Bi-Xenon* headlamp. Because of high volt-
age in Xenon and Bi-Xenon* lamps, it is dan-
gerous to replace the bulb or repair the lamp
and its components. We recommend that
you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
Page 336 of 434
335 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Turn locking mechanism 2 clockwise.
Plug the connector onto the bulb.
Align headlamp cover and click into
place.
Replacing parking and standing lamp
bulbs
Switch off the lights.
Open the hood (
page 253).
Press ends of headlamp cover tab to-
gether and remove cover.
Pull out the bulb socket with the bulb.
Pull the bulb out of the bulb socket.
Insert a new bulb in the socket.
Reinstall the bulb socket.
Align headlamp cover and click into
place.Replacing side marker lamp
Switch off the lights.
Carefully slide lamp towards rear.
Remove front end first.
Twist bulb socket counterclockwise
and pull out.
Pull bulb out of the bulb socket.
Insert new bulb in socket.
Reinstall bulb socket, push in, and twist
clockwise.
To reinstall lamp, set rear end in
bumper and let front end snap into
place.
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps
Tail lamp assemblies
1Backup lamp
2Turn signal lamp
3Driver’s side: Rear fog lamp
Passenger’s side: Substitute lamp
Switch off the lights.
Open the trunk lid (
page 99).
Fold trim to side and remove.
Twist bulb socket counterclockwise
and pull out.
iHave the headlamp adjustment
checked regularly.
Page 367 of 434
366 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
!
To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the transmission, however,
we recommend the drive shaft be dis-
connected at the rear axle drive flange
for any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.
Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:
the engine will not run
there is a malfunction in the SBC brake
system
there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.
iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use, turn
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate the combina-
tion switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.
Page 401 of 434
400 Technical termsMultifunction display
Two display fields in the instrument
cluster used to present information
provided by the control system.
Multifunction steering wheel
Steering wheel with buttons for operat-
ing the control system.
Overspeed range
Engine speeds within the red marking
on the tachometer dial (not on
SL 55 AMG, see “Tachometer”
(
page 125). Avoid this engine speed
range, as it may result in serious engine
damage that is not covered by the Mer-
cedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Parktronic*
System which uses visual and acoustic
signals to assist the driver during park-
ing maneuvers.
Poly-V-belt drive
Drives engine-components (alternator,
AC compressor, etc.) from the engine.Power train
Collective term designating all compo-
nents used to generate and transmit
motive power to the drive axles, includ-
ing
engine
clutch/torque converter
transmission
transfer case
drive shaft
differential
axle shafts/axlesProgram mode selector switch
Used to switch the automatic transmis-
sion between standard operation (S)
and comfort operation (C).
SL 55 AMG with steering wheel gear-
shift control and manual shift program:
in addition to S and C (for regular S or
comfort C operation, see above), you
can use MANUAL for manual shift pro-
gram
Remote Vehicle Diagnostics
Transmission of vehicle data and cur-
rent location to the Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Center for sub-
scribers to Tele Aid service.
REST
(Residual Engine Heat Utilization)
Feature that uses the engine heat
stored in the coolant to heat the vehi-
cle interior for a short time after the en-
gine has been turned off.
