2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS Owners Manual

225 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency
3Hex-socket wrench
aProtective cap
bScrew for the retractable hardtop lock-
ing mechanism
Take off protective capa on the inner
side of the retractable hardtop.

Turn the retractable hardtop’s locking
mechanism screwb with hex-socket
wrench3 clockwise as far as it will go.
The screw will be difficult to turn.
The clasp will open and the retractable
hardtop will engage audibly.

Turn the retractable hardtop’s locking
mechanism screwb with hex-socket
wrench3 counterclockwise as far as
it will go.
The retractable hardtop will be locked.

Put protective capa back into the
opening and press down on it firmly.

Place flat hands near edges (arrows)
and close trunk lid.Have the retractable hardtop operation
checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possi-
ble.
iAfter you have closed the retractable
hardtop manually, you can no longer

lock the trunk lid


close the rear quarter windows
The trunk lid will also no longer seal
properly.

226 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs
Replacing bulbsSafe 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 your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp
adjustment (
page 231).
Bulbs Front lamps
Lamp
Type
1
Additional turn
signal lamps
LED
2
Low beam head-
lamps
H7 (55 W)
Xenon*
D2R-35 W
1
1Vehicles with Xenon headlamps* do not replace
the Xenon bulbs yourself.3
Parking, standing
and turn signal
lamps
2357 NA
4
High beam head-
lamps
H7 (55 W)
5
Fog lamp
HB4 (55 W)
6
Side marker lamps
W5W

227 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Rear lamps Notes on bulb replacement


Use only 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 light
up, visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.


Have the LEDs and bulbs for the follow-
ing lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Additional turn signals in the
exterior rear view mirrors


High mounted brake lamp


Xenon* lamps


Front fog lamps
Lamp
Type
7
Brake lamp
1154/ 32 cp
8
High mounted brake
lamp
LED
9
Backup lamp
1154 / 32 cp
a
Turn signal lamp
1156 NA
b
Tail, parking, stand-
ing and side marker
lamp
67 / 4 cp
c
License plate lamps
C5W
d
Rear fog lamp,
driver’s side
1155 / 32 cp
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot.
Allow the lamp to cool down before
changing a bulb.
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.

228 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsReplacing bulbs for front lamps
Low and high beam headlamps (Halo-
gen headlamps only)
Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 174).
1Headlamp cover with locking tab

Push down locking tab at top and end
of headlamp cover1 and remove.2Electrical connector for low beam
headlamp bulb
3Electrical connector for high beam
headlamp bulb

Pull off electrical connector2 or3.

Unhook clamping ring and pull out the
bulb together with clamping ring.

Remove bulb.

Insert new bulb so that bulb sits prop-
erly in cutouts of bulb socket.

Mount clamping ring and reinstall.

Plug electrical connector onto the bulb.

Reinstall headlamp cover1.Low and high beam headlamps (Xenon*
headlamps only)
Warning!
G
Do not remove the cover for the xenon head-
lamp. Because of high voltage in xenon
lamps, it is dangerous to replace the bulb or
repair the lamp and its components. We rec-
om men d t ha t y ou ha ve s uc h w o rk do n e by a
qualified technician.

229 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Parking, standing and turn signal lamp
Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 174).
1Release opening

Insert the screwdriver from the vehicle
tool kit into release opening1.

Press the top of the screwdriver toward
the middle of the vehicle and toward
the rear.
The turn signal lamp will be lifted out.

Pull the turn signal lamp slightly out of
its mounting.

Pull off the electrical connector from
the turn signal lamp.

Take the turn signal lamp completely
out of its mounting.

Twist bulb socket counterclockwise
and pull out.

Gently push bulb into socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.

Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
twist clockwise.

Reinstall bulb socket, push in and twist
clockwise.

Plug electrical connector back into the
turn signal lamp.2Guides
3Tabs

Slide the turn signal lamp with tabs3
into guides2 and press it toward the
rear into the mounting until it engages.

230 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsSide marker lamp bulb
Switch off the lights.

Carefully slide lamp towards front.

Remove rear end first.

Twist bulb socket counterclockwise
and pull out.

Gently push bulb into socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.

Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
twist clockwise.

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
1Brake lamp
2Turn signal lamp
3Tail, parking and standing lamp, side
marker
4Backup lamp
5Rear fog lamp (driver’s side)

Switch off the lights.

Open trunk lid (
page 78).

Remove cover in right side panel.

Remove first aid kit (
page 212).

Remove cover in left side panel.

Turn bulb socket counterclockwise and
pull out.

Gently push bulb into socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.

Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
turn clockwise.

Reinstall bulb socket, push in and turn
clockwise.

Close cover.

231 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
License plate lamp
1Screws
Switch off the lights.

Loosen both screws1 and remove
lamp.

Replace the tubular lamp and reinstall
lamp.

Retighten the screws.Adjusting headlamp aim
(Halogen headlamps only)
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have the adjustment checked
regularly by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
To check and readjust a headlamp, follow
the steps described:
Park vehicle on level surface.

Open hood (
page 174).Vertical headlamp aim
1Headlamp vertical adjusting screw
2Level
iLow beam adjustments simultaneously
aim the high beam.
Vehicle should have a normal trunk
load.
Vertical aim adjustments change hori-
zontal aim.


232 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs
Turn adjusting screw1 (counterclock-
wise to adjust headlamp downward,
clockwise upward) until bubble in
level2 is centered on the “0” mark.
Graduations: 0.18° pitch
Horizontal headlamp aim
3Headlamp horizontal adjusting screw4Sight glass

Turn adjusting screw3 (counterclock-
wise to adjust headlamp to the left,
clockwise to the right) until
indicator4 in the sight glass is in line
with the “0” mark.