2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 multifunction indicator

312 OperationMaintenanceWe strongly recommend that you have
your vehicle serviced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, in accordance with
the Maintenance Booklet at the times
called for by the maintenance service indi-
cator display.
Failure to have the vehicle maintained in
accordance with the Maintenance Booklet
and the maintenance service indicator at
the designated times /mileage may result
in vehicle damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
The maintenance service indicator will no-
tify you when your next maintenance ser-
vice is due.Starting approximately one month before
your next maintenance service is due, one
of the following messages will appear in
the multifunction display while you are
driving or when you switch on the ignition
(example service A):
Service A in xx days
Service A in xx miles (km)
Service A Due now
The type of service due is indicated in the
left multifunction display:
9Basic service (A)
´Extended service (B)
iVehicles equipped with FSS (Flexible
Service System) only (Canada vehi-
cles):
The interval between services depends
on your driving habits. A gentle driving
style, moderate engine speeds and the
avoidance of short-distance trips will
lengthen the interval between services.

313 Operation
Maintenance
Clearing the maintenance service indi-cator
The maintenance service indicator is auto-
matically cleared after approximately
30 seconds. You can also clear it yourself.
1Reset button
Press reset button1 on the instru-
ment cluster.
The maintenance service indicator is
cleared and the standard display ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested ser-
vice term, you will see the following mes-
sage in the right multifunction display:Service A exceeded by xx days
Service A exceeded by xx miles (km)In addition, a signal sounds when the mes-
sage appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance ser-
vice.Calling up the maintenance service
indicator
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
The standard display of the control sys-
tem appears (
page 134).

Press button k or j on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
maintenance service indicator symbol
9 or ´ appears in the left multi-
function display and the service dead-
line appears in the right multifunction
display.


336 Practical hintsWhat to do if …On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may ap-
pear in the multifunction display.
For your convenience the messages are di-
vided into two sections:

Text messages (
page 337)


Symbol messages (
page 345)
iSwitching on the ignition causes all in-
strument cluster lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure the lamps
and the multifunction display are in
working order before starting your jour-
ney.

440 Technical termsCAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping depending on vehi-
cle settings and/or ambient condi-
tions.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.
Collapsible tire
An especially compact spare tire that
must be inflated with a provided air
pump before using. It should only be
used to bring the vehicle to the nearest
service station.COMAND
(Co
ckpit Man
agement and
D
ata System)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio, CD
changer and navigation system, as well
as other optional equipment (e.g. tele-
phone).
Control system
The control system is used to call up
vehicle information and to change
component settings. Information and
messages appear in the multifunction
display. The driver uses the buttons on
the multifunction steering wheel to
navigate through the system and to ad-
just settings.
Cruise control
Driving convenience system for auto-
matically maintaining the vehicle speed
set by the driver.Distronic*
A driving convenience cruise control
system which helps the driver maintain
a pre-selected speed:


If there is no vehicle directly ahead,
the system operates in the same
way as conventional cruise control.


If a slower moving vehicle is ahead,
Distronic* will reduce your vehicle
speed to the extent permitted by re-
duced throttle and up to 20% brak-
ing power to maintain the preset
minimum following distance.
DTR
(->Distr
onic*)
Engine number
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the cylinder block to
uniquely identify each engine pro-
duced.

441 Technical terms
ESP
(E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)
Improves vehicle handling and direc-
tional stability.
ETD
(E
mergency Tensioning D
evice)
Device which deploys in certain frontal
and rear collisions exceeding the sys-
tem's threshold to tighten the seat
belts.
->SRS
FSS (Canada vehicles)
(F
lexible S
ervice S
ystem)
Service indicator in the multifunction
display that informs the driver when
the next vehicle maintenance service is
due.
Gear range
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the gear selector le-
ver.GPS
(G
lobal P
ositioning S
ystem)
Satellite-based system for relaying
geographic location information to and
from vehicles equipped with special re-
ceivers. Employs CD digital maps for
navigation.
Head-thorax airbag
Installed in the doors, these airbags
protect occupants during side impact
collisions exceeding a preset thresh-
old. Unlike normal side airbags,
head-thorax airbags are also designed
to provide protection for the head area.
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
engine temperature and fuel gauge.
KEYLESS-GO*
System for entering and operating the
vehicle without the use of a key. Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the transmis-
sion down to the lowest possible gear.
This very quickly accelerates the vehi-
cle and should not be used for normal
acceleration needs.
Lock button
Button on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the lock button down
on an individual door from inside will
lock that door.
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. The Maintenance
system tracks distance driven and teh
time elapsed since the last mainte-
nance service, calculates other mainte-
nance service work required, and calls
for the next service accordingly.

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

461 Index
Service System see Vehicle Maintenance
System
Setting 150
Convenience functions 157
Daytime running lamp mode 152
Digital clock 23
Distronic* time interval 216
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 158
Instrument lighting 131
Interior lighting delayed
switch-off 155
Key-dependent memory 158
Lamps and lighting (control
system) 152
Locator lighting 153
Lower speed in cruise control 207
Miles/kilometers in
speedometer 148
Multifunction display language 149
Night security illumination 154
Radio station 140
Slower speed in cruise control 207Speedometer display mode 148
Suspension tuning 220
Temperature (interior) 185
Temperature indicator 148
Time (control system) 149
Time display mode 151
Tire inflation pressure units 156
Units
Temperature 148
Tire inflation pressure 156
Units in speedometer 148
Vehicle level control 221
Setting current speed
Cruise control 206
Setting last stored speed
Distronic* 215
Setting speed
Cruise control 207
Distronic* 214
Setting the time (hours) 150
Setting the time (minutes) 151Setting to last stored speed
Cruise control 208
Settings
Calling up Distronic* 142, 212
Convenience functions 157
Factory (SmartKey) 96
Resetting all (control system) 145
Selective (SmartKey) 96
Settings menu
Individual vehicle settings 144
Submenus 145
Shifting
Gear selector lever 164
Gear selector lever positions 168
Into optimal gear range (Automatic
transmission) 166
Shoulder support
Seat adjustment 116
Side air vents 29
Side marker lamps 381, 384