2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 Storage compartments

375 Practical hints
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Unlocking the trunk
A minimum height clearance of
6.2 ft (1.89 m) is required to open the
trunk lid.
If you are unable to unlock the trunk with
the SmartKey, open the trunk with the me-
chanical key.
The handle is located above the rear li-
cense plate recess.Trunk lid lock1Unlocking
2Handle

Insert the mechanical key into the
trunk lid lock.

Turn the mechanical key counterclock-
wise to position 1 and hold it in this
position.

Pull the trunk lid handle 2 and lift lid.Unlocking interior storage compart-
ments
Locking storage areas in the passenger
compartment include:


the glove box


the storage compartment under the
armrest


the rear storage compartments
If these cannot be unlocked by means of
the SmartKey, the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*, or the central locking but-
ton, use the mechanical key to open the
glove box.
iUnlocking your vehicle with the me-
chanical key will trigger the anti-theft
alarm system. To cancel the alarm, do
one of the following:

Press button Œ or ‹on the
SmartKey.


Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.


Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 37).


Grasp the outside door handle (ve-
hicles with KEYLESS-GO* only).
iThe storage compartment under the
armrest and the rear storage compart-
ments can only be unlocked at the
glove box lock using the mechanical
key.

376 Practical hintsLocking/unlocking in an emergency1Separately unlock storage compart-
ments
2Centrally lock/unlock storage com-
partments
3Separately lock storage compartments
Slide mechanical key out of SmartKey
housing (
page 374).

Insert the mechanical key into the
glove box lock and turn it to
position2.
All storage compartments are now un-
locked.
Locking the vehicle
If you are unable to lock the vehicle with
the SmartKey, lock it with the mechanical
key as follows:
Close the passenger door and the trunk
lid.

Press the central locking switch in the
center console (
page 110).

Check to see whether the locking knob
on the passenger door is still visible. If
necessary push it down manually.

Slide the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey.

Lock the driver’s door with the me-
chanical key.
Lowering the load assist manually
If the load assist feature does not fully low-
er the retractable hardtop into the trunk
compartment and you are unable to close
the trunk lid, follow the instructions below.
1Hex-socket wrench
2Locking screw
Remove the trunk floor from the trunk.

Lift up the lid located at the lower left
side of the trunk.

Have a second person lift and hold the
retracted hardtop.

451 Index
Intermittent signal tone 211
Setting a higher speed 214
Setting a slower speed 214
Setting distance 30
Setting last stored speed 215
Setting speed 214
System sensor cover 318
Warning and indicator lamps 210
Distronic* warning lamp 25
Door control panel 23, 32
Door handle 32
Doors
Message in display 354
Opening from inside vehicle 106
Storage compartments 229
DOT 305
Downhill driving
Cruise control 206
Downshifting 166
Drinking and driving 255Drive sensibly - save fuel 255
Driving 45, 50
Driving abroad 264
Driving hints
Distronic* 217
SBC brake system 87
Driving instructions 255
Driving off 258
Driving safety systems 79
ABS 79, 80
BAS 81
ESP 82
Driving systems 205
ABC 220
Cruise control 205
Distronic* 208
Parktronic* 223
Vehicle level control 221
DTR see DistronicE
Easy-entry/exit 157
Messages in display 354
Easy-entry/exit feature 113
Electric air pump 373, 397
Electrical consumer battery 277
Electrical outlet 236
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
Emergency call system*
Initiating emergency call 240
Requirements 237
Emergency engine shut-down 60
Emergency operation
Locking the vehicle 376
Lowering load assist 376
Unlocking storage
compartments 375
Unlocking the trunk 375
Unlocking the vehicle 374
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 177
Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD) 72,
440

455 Index
Light sensor 361
Replacing bulbs for rear 381, 385
Switching off 123
Switching on 123
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 27, 325
ABS/ESP 324
AIRBAG OFF 334
Airbag Off 68
Brakes 326
CHECK ENGINE 327, 328
Coolant 328
DTR* 210
Engine diagnostics 327, 328
ESP 82
Fuel reserve 330
SBC 85
Seat belts 332
SRS 63, 332
Turn signals 25Language
Multifunction display 149
Leather upholstery
Cleaning 321
License plate lamps 153, 381
Replacing bulbs 385
Light sensor 361
Lighter see Cigarette lighter
Lighting
Instruments 131
Interior 129
Settings (control system) 152
Trunk 130
Limiting the gear range 167
Limp Home Mode 177
Load assist 235
Lowering manually 376
Loading terminology 305
Loading the vehicle 282
Lock buttons 34
Door handle (KEYLESS-GO*) 60
Trunk (KEYLESS-GO*) 104Locking 56
Automatic while driving 110
Centrally from inside 111
Fuel filler flap 267
Global (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 102
Global (SmartKey) 96
Storage compartments 230
Vehicle in an emergency 376
Low beam headlamps 51, 123, 381
Replacing bulbs 383
Lowering
Load assist manually 376
Roll bar 74
Luggage compartment, rear 232
Luggage cover 197
Messages in display 371
Opening/closing 197
Lumbar support adjustment 115

456 IndexM
Main fuse box 412
Maintenance service
Overdue 313
When due 312
Maintenance service indicator 312
Clearing 313
Maintenance System (U.S.
vehicles) 312, 441
Malfunction memory 143
Calling up 143
Clearing 144
Manual operation
Interior lighting control 130
Locking the vehicle 376
Lowering load assist 376
Unlocking storage
compartments 375
Unlocking the driver’s door 374
Unlocking the trunk 375
Manual shift program SL 55 AMG and SL
65 AMG 175
Massage function 116Maximum cooling MAXCOOL 186
Maximum inflation pressure 306
Maximum load rating 306
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 306
Memory function 441
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing positions 121
Storing key-dependent settings 158
Menus 136
AUDIO 139
Distronic* 142
NAVI 142
Standard display 139
TEL* 161
Trip computer 159
Vehicle status message memory 143
Microphone
Hands-free microphone 31
Miles/kilometers in speedometer 148
Minimum distance (Parktronic*) 225Mirrors 43, 178
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position 179
Adjusting interior rear view mirror 43
Auto-dimming rear view mirror 178
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 158
Exterior rear view mirrors 43
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing position 121
Misfiring 55
MON 268, 441
Mph or km/h in speedometer 148
Multicontour backrest* 116
Multifunction display 134, 442
Displaying gear range 167
Left display field 25
Right display field 27
Selecting language 149
Standard display 134

463 Index
Starter battery 277, 401
Starter switch 23, 36
Starter switch positions 36
SmartKey 36
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 37
Starting difficulties 49
Starting position 36
Starting the engine
With the SmartKey 48
With the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 49
Steering column
In/out adjustment 42
Length adjustment 42
Up/down adjustment 42
Steering wheel
Adjusting 42
Buttons 28
Cleaning 320
Heating* 234
Height adjustment 42Steering wheel adjustment lever 23
Steering wheel gearshift control 172
Vehicles with Sport Package*172
SL 55 AMG and SL 65 AMG 174
Stopping
Windows 195
Storage compartments 228
Armrest 229
Cup holder 228
Glove box 228
In door 229
In rear 230
Locking compartments
separately 230
Locking storage compartments 230
Rear 230
Storage tray 230
Unlocking compartments
separately 231
Unlocking storage
compartments 231, 375
Ventilated compartments 192Storing tires 281
Submenus 138
Convenience 157
Instrument cluster 148, 149
Lighting 152
Resetting functions 146
Selecting 145
Settings menus 145
Time 149
Vehicle 156
Summer opening feature 200
Sun blind see Sunshade
Sun visors 180
Sunshade 203
Closing 204
Opening 204
Suspension tuning
For regular driving style 220
For sporty driving style 220
Setting 220

466 IndexTurn signals 23, 52
Additional in mirrors 381
Front bulbs 381
Indicator lamps 25
Rear bulbs 381
Turning off the engine 58
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 307
Units
Setting speedometer units 148
Setting temperature units 148
Setting tire inflation pressure
units 156
Unlocking 34
Centrally from inside 111
Driver’s door in an emergency 374
Fuel filler flap 267
Storage compartments 231, 375
Trunk 98, 108
Trunk (KEYLESS-GO*) 105
Trunk in an emergency 375
Vehicle in an emergency 374
With the SmartKey 34With the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 35, 99
Uphill driving
Cruise control 206
Upholstery
Cleaning 321
Upshifting 166
V
Vehicle
Individual settings 144
Locking 29
Locking in an emergency 376
Minimum distance (Parktronic*) 225
Towing 408
Unlocking 29
Unlocking in an emergency 374
Vehicle capacity weight 307
Vehicle care
Cup holder 320
Gear selector lever 320
Hard plastic trim items 320Headliner 320
Leather upholstery 321
Plastic and rubber parts 321
Seat belts 320
Steering wheel 320
Upholstery 321
Wood trims 321
Vehicle level 221, 444
Changing 222
Setting 222
Vehicle level control 444
Vehicle level control switch 30
Vehicle lighting
Checking 269
Vehicle loading terminology 305
Vehicle maximum load on the tire 307
Vehicle status messages 335
Vehicle tool kit 372
Ventilation and residual heat 190
VIN (vehicle identification number) 418,
444
Voice control system* 23, 444
Hands-free microphone 31