2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230 hardtop

ContentsControls in detail............................... 73
Locking and unlocking ......................... 74
Keys ............................................... 74
Opening the doors from the inside . 77
Opening the trunk .......................... 77
Closing the trunk ............................ 78
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 78
Automatic central locking .............. 79
Locking and unlocking from the
inside ............................................. 80
Seats.................................................... 81
Removing and installing head
restraints ........................................ 81
Heated seats* ................................ 82
Lighting ................................................ 83
Exterior lamp switch ....................... 83
Combination switch........................ 85
Hazard warning flasher................... 86
Interior lighting ............................... 87
Instrument cluster ............................... 89
Instrument cluster illumination....... 89
Coolant temperature gauge............ 89
Trip odometer................................. 90
Tachometer .................................... 90
Outside temperature indicator ....... 91Setting clock .................................. 91
Manual transmission ........................... 92
Shifting into reverse ....................... 92
Automatic transmission* ..................... 93
One-touch gearshifting................... 94
Gear ranges.................................... 95
Gear selector lever position ........... 95
Program mode selector switch....... 97
Accelerator position ....................... 98
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)............................................. 98
Good visibility ...................................... 99
Headlamp cleaning system* .......... 99
Rear view mirror............................. 99
Sun visors .................................... 100
Rear window defroster ................. 101
Climate control .................................. 102
Setting the temperature ............... 104
Adjusting air volume .................... 105
Adjusting air distribution .............. 105
Air recirculation mode .................. 106
Air conditioning ............................ 106
Residual heat ............................... 107
Basic settings............................... 108
Special settings............................ 109Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 110
Audio system ..................................... 111
Audio and telephone, operation ... 111
Operating safety .......................... 111
Operating and display elements... 112
Anti-theft system ......................... 114
Button and soft key operation...... 115
Operation ..................................... 115
Radio mode .................................. 116
Cassette mode............................. 118
CD mode ...................................... 121
Telephone* operation .................. 125
Power windows ................................. 128
Opening and closing the windows 128
Retractable hardtop........................... 130
Opening and closing the
retractable hardtop ...................... 130
Wind screen ................................. 135
Driving systems ................................. 136
Cruise control .............................. 136
Useful features .................................. 139
Interior storage spaces ................ 139
Ashtray ........................................ 142
Cigarette lighter ........................... 143
Telephone* .................................. 143

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

24 At a glanceCenter consoleLower Part
Item
Page
1
Selector lever for
automatic transmission*
93
Gearshift lever for manual
transmission
92
2
Storage compartment
3
Indicator lamp
7
62
4
Switch for opening/closing
windows on passenger
side
128
5
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
35
6
Switch for opening/closing
the hardtop
130
7
Storage compartment
140
Cigarette lighter
143
Item
Page
8
Parking brake lever
42
9
Switch for opening/closing
windows on the driver’s
side
128
a
Program mode selector for
automatic transmission*
93
b
Ashtray
142
Coin holder
142

73 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Audio system
Power windows
Retractable hardtop
Driving systems
Useful features

81 Controls in detail
Seats
Seats
Information on seat adjustment can be
found in the “Getting started” section
(page 27).
Removing and installing head
restraints
1Release button
Removing head restraint

Open the retractable hardtop
(page 130).

Pull head restraint to its highest
position.

Push button1 and pull out head re-
straint.Installing head restraint

Insert head restraint and push it down
to the stop.

Push button1 and adjust head re-
straint to desired position.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.iSLK 32 AMG has integrated,
non-removable head restraints.
Warning!
G
Be sure to install the head restraint so that
it is facing in the right direction. Otherwise
you could damage the mounting.
In addition, a head restraint installed in the
wrong direction will not provide the intend-
ed protection and can cause injury in an ac-
cident or similar situation.

122 Controls in detailAudio systemInstalling and removing the CD
changer*
The CD changer is located in the trunk on
the right side.
1Fastener
2CD changer (with protective cover)Removing

Release fasteners 1 by turning them
counterclockwise with a screwdriver.

Carefully lift CD changer up and place it
to the side.3Mounting fixture
4Retainer
Installing

Insert CD changer from above into
mounting fixture until retainers 4 en-
gage in mounting fixture3.

Press fasteners 1 down with a screw-
driver and turn them clockwise to lock.
iIf your CD changer holder does not
have the fasteners1as shown in
above illustration, your vehicle may be
equipped with a non-factory installed
CD changer holder. The CD changer
holder then does not need to be re-
moved as there should be enough room
between the CD changer holder and
the right side trim panel in the trunk to
remove the cover and gain access to
the screw for hydraulic pump
(page 221) should you need to raise
the retractable hardtop manually.

128 Controls in detailPower windows
Power windowsOpening and closing the windows
The side windows can be opened and
closed electrically. The switches for the
side windows are on the lower part of the
center console.
1Power window switch

Turn key in the steering lock to
position1 or2.Opening the windows

Press switch at the symbolk to the
resistance point.
The corresponding window will move
downwards until you release the
switch.
Closing the windows

Press switch at the symbolj.
The corresponding window will move
upwards until you release the switch.
Fully opening the windows (Ex-
press-open)

Press switch at the symbolk past
the resistance point and release.
The corresponding window opens com-
pletely.
Stopping windows

Briefly press switch atk orj.
Warning!
G
When closing the windows, make sure there
is no danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasingj.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from steering lock and lock your vehicle.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment can
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.iThe power windows can also be
operated with the retractable hardtop
switch (
page 132).

130 Controls in detailRetractable hardtop
Retractable hardtopOpening and closing the retractable hardtop
For safety reasons, the retractable hardtop
can only be opened and closed when the
vehicle is standing still.
Warning!
G
Before operating the switch for the retract-
able hardtop make sure no persons are in-
jured by the moving parts (retractable
hardtop, roof frame, and trunk lid) due to in-
attention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, retractable
hardtop, shelf behind roll bars, or trunk lid
while the retractable hardtop is being raised
or lowered. Serious personal injury may oc-
cur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
tractable hardtop switch. This immediately
interrupts the raising or lowering procedure.
You then can operate the retractable hard-
top switch to raise or lower the retractable
hardtop away from the danger zone.
!Never sit or place heavy objects on the
rear shelf. Doing so could cause dam-
age to the retractable hardtop and the
rear shelf.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.