2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS engine

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your de-
sire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-
forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-
men. To help assure your driving pleasure,
and also the safety of you and your passen-
gers, we ask you to make a small invest-
ment of time:

Please read this manual carefully, then
return it to your vehicle where it will be
handy for your reference.


Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are de-
signed to acquaint you with the opera-
tion of your Mercedes-Benz.


Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and oc-
cupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company

Contents
Introduction......................................... 7
Product information ................................ 7
Operator’s Manual .................................. 8
Service and warranty information ..... 8
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles ............. 9
Maintenance .................................. 10
Roadside Assistance ...................... 10
Change of address or ownership.... 10
Operating your vehicle outside the
USA or Canada.............................. 11
Where to find it .................................... 12
Symbols ............................................... 13
Operating safety .................................. 14
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 14
Problems with your vehicle .................. 15
Reporting safety defects...................... 16
Reporting safety defects ................ 16
At a glance.......................................... 17
Cockpit ................................................. 18
Instrument cluster ................................ 20
Center console ..................................... 23
Upper part ...................................... 23
Lower Part ...................................... 24
Overhead control panel ........................ 25Getting started................................... 27
Unlocking ............................................. 28
Unlocking with the remote control.. 28
Adjusting .............................................. 30
Seats............................................... 30
Telescoping steering column* ........ 34
Mirrors ............................................ 35
Driving .................................................. 37
Fastening the seat belts.................. 37
Starting the engine ......................... 40
Switching on headlamps ................. 43
Turn signals and high beam ............ 43
Windshield wipers ........................... 44
Problems while driving .................... 45Parking and locking .............................. 47
Parking brake ................................. 47
Switching off headlamps................. 48
Turning off engine ........................... 48
Safety and Security........................... 51
Occupant safety ................................... 52
Airbags ........................................... 53
Seat belts ....................................... 57
Children in the vehicle .................... 60
Panic alarm .......................................... 65
Activating........................................ 65
Deactivating.................................... 65
Driving safety systems ......................... 66
ABS ................................................. 66
BAS ................................................. 67
ESP ................................................. 68
Anti-theft systems ................................ 71
Immobilizer ..................................... 71
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 71
Tow-away alarm .............................. 72

Contents
Tele Aid ........................................ 144
Garage door opener ..................... 153
Operation......................................... 159
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 160
Driving instructions............................ 161
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 161
Drinking and driving ..................... 161
Pedals .......................................... 161
Power assistance ......................... 162
Brakes .......................................... 162
Driving off .................................... 163
Parking......................................... 163
Tires ............................................. 164
Hydroplaning................................ 165
Tire traction ................................. 165
Tire speed rating .......................... 166
Winter driving instructions ........... 167
Standing water ............................. 168
Passenger compartment .............. 168
Driving abroad.............................. 168
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ................................... 168
Catalytic converter....................... 169
Emission control .......................... 170Coolant temperature..................... 170
At the gas station ............................... 171
Refueling....................................... 171
Check regularly and before a
long trip ........................................ 172
Engine compartment .......................... 174
Hood ............................................. 174
Engine oil ...................................... 175
Transmission fluid level................. 180
Coolant ......................................... 180
Battery .......................................... 183
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*.......... 184
Tires and wheels................................. 185
Important guidelines ..................... 185
Life of tire ..................................... 186
Direction of rotation...................... 186
Checking tire inflation pressure .... 186
Rotating wheels ............................ 187
Winter driving ..................................... 188
Winter tires ................................... 188
Block heater (Canada only) ........... 189
Snow chains.................................. 189
Maintenance....................................... 190
Clearing the service indicator ....... 190
Service term exceeded ................. 191Calling up the service indicator .... 191
Resetting the service indicator ..... 191
Vehicle care ....................................... 192
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 192
Practical hints.................................. 199
What to do if … ................................... 200
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 200
Additional indicators in the
speedometer display .................... 210
Lamp in center console ................ 211
Where will I find ...? ............................ 212
First aid kit.................................... 212
Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack ......... 212
Spare wheel (SLK 230
Kompressor, SLK 320) .................. 213
TIREFIT kit (SLK 32 AMG only) ...... 214
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 216
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 216
Locking the vehicle ....................... 217
Changing batteries in remote
control .......................................... 218
Synchronizing remote control ....... 219
Fuel filler flap ................................ 219

Contents
Manually unlocking the
transmission selector lever .......... 220
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 221
Raising retractable hardtop
manually ...................................... 221
Replacing bulbs ................................. 226
Bulbs ............................................ 226
Replacing bulbs for front lamps.... 228
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 230
Adjusting headlamp aim
(Halogen headlamps only) ............ 231
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 233
Removing wiper blades ................ 233
Installing wiper blades.................. 234
Flat tire .............................................. 235
Preparing the vehicle.................... 235
Sealing tires with TIREFIT kit 1 ..... 235
Sealing tires with TIREFIT kit 2 ..... 240
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 244
Battery ............................................... 251
Disconnecting the battery ............ 252
Removing the battery ................... 252
Charging and reinstalling battery . 252
Reconnecting the battery ............. 252
Jump starting ..................................... 254Towing the vehicle ............................. 256
Towing eye ................................... 258
Installing towing eye bolt ............. 259
Fuses ................................................. 260
Main fuse box............................... 260
Auxiliary fuse box ......................... 261
Technical data................................. 263
Spare parts service ............................ 264
Warranty coverage............................. 265
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 265
Identification labels ........................... 266
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 267
SLK 230 Kompressor ................... 267
SLK 320 ....................................... 267
SLK 32 AMG................................. 267
Engine................................................ 268
Rims and Tires ................................... 269
Same size tires ............................. 270
Mixed size tires ............................ 271
Spare wheel with collapsible tire.. 273
Electrical system ............................... 274
Main Dimensions ............................... 275
Weights.............................................. 276Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 277
Capacities .................................... 277
Engine oils ................................... 279
Engine oil additives ...................... 279
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 279
Brake fluid.................................... 279
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 280
Fuel requirements ........................ 280
Gasoline additives ........................ 280
Coolants ...................................... 281
Windshield washer system and
headlamp washer system* .......... 283
Consumer information ....................... 284
Uniform tire quality grading ......... 284
Technical terms............................... 287Index................................................. 293

11 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:

service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,


unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,


gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.Certain Mercedes-Benz models are avail-
able for delivery in Europe under our Euro-
pean Delivery Program. For details, consult
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
write to:
In the USA:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
849 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario M4G 2L5

14 IntroductionOperating safety
Operating safety
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you
are familiar with the following information
and rules:

the safety precautions in this manual


the “Technical data” section in this
manual


traffic rules and regulations


motor vehicle laws and safety stan-
dards
Warning!
G
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are in-
terconnected, any modification made may
produce an undesired effect on other sys-
tems.
See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for repairs or modifications to electronic
components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore nev-
er turn off the engine while driving.
Warning!
G
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody
or tires/ wheels, for example when running
over an obstacle, road debris or a pothole,
may cause serious damage and impair the
operating safety or your vehicle. If you feel a
sudden significant vibration or ride distur-
bance, or you suspect that damage to your
vehicle has occurred, you should turn on
your hazard warning flashers, carefully slow
down, and drive with caution to an area
which is a safe distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody or
tires/wheels for possible damage. If the ve-
hicle appears unsafe, have it towed to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or other qualified maintenance or repair fa-
cility for further inspection or repairs.
Warning!
G
Various labels are attached to your vehicle.
These warning labels are intended to make
you and others aware of various risks. You
should not remove any of these warning la-
bels unless explicitly instructed to do so by
information on the label itself. Removal of
any of these labels may cause you and oth-
ers to be unaware of certain risks which may
result in an accident and/or personal injury.

21 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Left indicator lamps
with:W
Low windshield
washer and head
lamp washer* sys-
tem fluid level warn-
ing lamp
206
/
Low engine coolant
level warning lamp
207
N
Low engine oil level
warning lamp
206
1
Supplemental Re-
straint System
(SRS) indicator
lamp
52,
203
2
Brake pad wear in-
dicator lamp
209
?
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
205
_
Telescoping steer-
ing column warning
lamp
206
Item
Page
2
Display with:D
Coolant tempera-
ture gauge
89
A
Fuel gauge
207
Outside temperature
indicator
91
3
Knob for:

Instrument cluster illu-
mination
89


Resetting trip odome-
ter
90


Activating Flexible Ser-
vice System (FSS) indi-
cator
190
Item
Page
4
Speedometer with:L
Left turn signal indi-
cator lamp
K
Right turn signal in-
dicator lamp
v
Electronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
68,
200
Trip odometer
90
Main odometer
5
Knob for:

Setting clock
91
6
Tachometer with:Selector lever position
41, 90
Clock
91

29 Getting started
Unlocking
Steering lock positionsSteering lock0For removing key
The steering is locked when the key is
removed from the steering lock. If nec-
essary, move steering wheel slightly to
allow the locking mechanism to en-
gage.
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment
may cause an accident and/or serious per-
sonal injury.iThe key can only be withdrawn in
position0.
If necessary, move steering wheel
slightly to allow the key to be turned
clockwise to position1.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
The key can only be removed from the
steering lock with the gear selector
lever in positionP.
!To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge and a possible dead battery,
always remove the key from the
steering lock when the engine is not in
operation.